Louder with Crowder Podcast Summary

Episode: Minnesota Catholic School Shooting Update - Shooter & Manifesto
Date: August 27, 2025
Host: Steven Crowder
Theme: Timely analysis and discussion of breaking news regarding the Minneapolis Catholic school shooting, including deep dives into the identity, motivations, and manifesto of the alleged shooter, critique of media coverage, and broader implications for gun control, mental health, and societal trends.

Episode Overview

This episode centers on the breaking developments of the Minnesota Catholic school shooting. Host Steven Crowder and his crew discuss the suspected shooter’s background, motives, and disturbing online presence—including a manifesto and a now-deleted YouTube account—as well as the immediate mainstream media response, or lack thereof. The crew examines the wider context of gun control debates, gender identity politics, the role of fathers and faith in society, and the implications of progressive values on mental health and violence.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Breaking Info on the Shooter and Social Media Footprint

• The team claims to have received and verified tips about the shooter’s online presence before legacy media outlets reported on it ([00:01-02:25]).
• A deleted YouTube channel included videos of weapons, a possible manifesto, My Little Pony, LGBTQ symbols, anti-Semitic imagery ("gas the Jews"), and violent threats.
  • “There was...an LGBTQ rainbow flag...My Little Pony. Also see...gas the Jews.” — Steven Crowder [00:54]
• The shooter left sketches, possible plans of the church, and disturbing writings, some in faux-Cyrillic meant to mislead ([01:59–04:45]).
• Videos showed the shooter’s firearms, ammunition, and booby traps, such as a smoke bomb ([09:33–11:31]).
• Team notes specific phrases and imagery (“kill Pedos”, upside-down cross, “defend equality” sticker, and references to hate toward various groups).

2. Media Coverage Critique and Political Framing

• Crowder alleges that mainstream media (CNN, NBC, etc.) avoided reporting on the shooter’s identity and motivations because it didn’t fit the favored “right-wing extremist” narrative ([02:25–04:45], [15:39–16:10], [47:26–49:40]).
  • "[Legacy media] jumped at the opportunity much more quickly...if they think they can label it right wing extremists...If [they see a rainbow flag], they won’t touch it...” — Crowder [03:26]
• Suggests that online “click business” distorts facts, and stresses their team’s priority is accuracy and transparency ([04:45], [13:38], [17:39–19:26]).
• Criticizes coverage delays and selection biases, noting that if the shooter were a right-winger or wore a MAGA hat, information would spread much faster ([103:00]).
• “How much you want to bet that we would know right now if this prick was a registered Republican?” — Crowder [102:59]

3. Identification and Background of Suspect

• The shooter is identified as Robin Westman, previously Robert Westman, who legally changed their name in 2020—transitioned with a mother’s approval ([14:54–17:39], [22:15–23:39]).
  • “It looks like...reports are going around that this was Robert Westman that transitioned and legally had first name changed...” — Co-host [14:54]
• Team connects the mother’s name to a church staff/volunteer position, discusses “feminist” and “progressive” influences, and speculates on family dynamics ([23:45–27:54], [31:35–32:08]).
  • “A dad didn’t [sign the transition papers]...So if there’s a dad there or there’s no dad...if the dad is there, he’s not present—because the mom is the one involved with making a life-altering decision.” — Crowder [24:45]

4. Manifesto Content and Mental Health Analysis

• The manifesto is read in detail. Themes: self-loathing, nihilism, desire for chaos and notoriety, planning to attack the school, hatred against humanity, and a longing for violence ([33:41–35:47]).
  • “I have to leave my mark on this world. I can’t let the world crush me. I’ll fight back and cause damage before I let life beat me. I want to die, but I can’t find peace. So F you, all of you...chaos, pain, trauma, heartbreak. Shoot the school, kill the neighbor, kill anyone who cares who gives an F. Life isn’t worth living. I wish I was never born. Soon my own blood will prove that about me. But not soon enough. Until then, more deaths. More stupid deaths.” — Manifesto Excerpt [33:41–35:47],
• Discussion of self-diagnosed mental illness, suicidal ideation, and possible gender dysphoria; host forcefully critiques current standards for diagnosing and intervening in mental health, especially related to transgender individuals.
  • “Gender dysphoria...has more comorbidities than any other psychiatric illness. And a 41 to 42% attempt to suicide rate, whether pre op or post op.” — Crowder [20:03–20:07]
• Speculation whether manifesto is genuine or deliberately trolling to create chaos—a la Christchurch shooter ([13:38]).
• Team notes repeated “warning signs” (disturbing drawings, internet activity, notes about parents and transition) that should have been red flags for authorities ([13:11–14:54], [112:54–114:03]).
• "There were multiple warning signs along this behavioral continuum that we as a community need to actually learn to identify..." — Analyst (CNN clip) [110:54–112:12]

5. Gun Control, Gun Free Zones, and Policy Debates

• Asserts that gun control advocates and politicians (e.g., Amy Klobuchar, Jen Psaki, Obama) use events to push their agenda prematurely (multiple timestamps starting around [02:25–04:25], [40:00–42:29]).
• Host claims nearly all mass shootings occur in “gun-free zones,” and argues arming responsible citizens, homeschooling, and avoiding gun-free zones as ways to protect families ([57:36–61:26], [65:51–67:07]).
  • “94% of mass shootings occur in gun free zones, period. Half a million to over 2 million defensive uses of firearms every year compared to the low tens of thousands of homicides, period. They save far more lives than they take.” — Crowder [56:42–57:48]
• Dismisses most proposed legal restrictions as ineffective indicators (e.g., pistol grips ban, magazine limits) ([63:10–65:10]).
• Argues media ignores data and patterns, particularly when shootings are perpetrated by minorities or transgender individuals ([86:56–90:13], [103:00–103:11]).

6. Societal Trends: Gender, Family Structure, and Church

• The crew draws explicit connections between perceived cultural breakdown—absent fathers, rise of single-parent homes, feminism, gender-affirming care—and violence or mental illness ([27:36–33:24], [35:47–39:52], [73:09–74:33]).
  • “Strong men. And I don’t mean strong being able to lift a truck...I mean strong being able to say...as for me, in my house, we don’t do that.” — Crowder [30:00]
• Labels mother’s “progressive” support for transition as misguided, connects mother’s volunteer work at church and church’s alleged liberal trend as harmful ([25:52–27:36], [31:35–32:08]).
• Links “secular humanist society” and relativist values with nihilism and violence ([36:01–39:52]).
• Equates cultural acceptance of late-term abortion and transition of children with the devaluation of human life ([69:13–74:33]).

7. Media Response Real-Time & Comparison

• The team tracks CNN’s delayed and “sanitized” coverage in real time, contrasting their own rapid, in-depth reporting ([85:04–94:25], [102:00–114:27]).
  • CNN eventually names the shooter, briefly notes manifesto, but omits details on gender, transition, anti-Christian sentiments, specific anti-Semitic references, or political symbolism.
  • “They are now choosing to cover the anecdotal in the complete absence of the factual of what it is that we know. Which, again, we got this hours ago.” — Crowder [102:09]
• Host repeatedly expresses frustration at media’s ambiguity, framing coverage as deliberately evasive ([113:45–114:27]).

8. Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• “There needs to be content out there that exists to serve you, especially in these confusing times.” — Crowder [02:25]
• “Don't allow these people to profit off the credibility that you have created here, because a lot of these people deserve to be mistrusted.” — Crowder [15:40]
• "I have to leave my mark on this world. I can't let the world crush me...I want to die, but I can't find peace. So F you, all of you. I wonder, will the news report my attack?...I do this for chaos, for pain, to ruin lives. F you. I'm going to kill so many kids." — Manifesto read by Co-host [33:41–35:47]
• "If this is a psychotic transgender individual inspired by a soulless, godless agenda killing children, that act of violence is not equivalent to a father who...protect[s] children." — Crowder [20:07]
• "It's almost like the father was tasked with leading the household and was held legally liable if he failed it. Throughout all of human history." — Crowder [48:24]
• "Strong men...are the most important safeguard against [cultural rot]." — Crowder [30:07]
• "If you claim to be a Christian and you vote Democrats, very unlikely that you tithe. You're very likely incredibly uncharitable as seen by Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, Joe Biden, Bernie Sanders. But that's an aside." — Crowder [137:58]

9. Community Q&A (Rapid-fire Segment After [117:45])

• Q: Should churches add armed security? (Consensus: yes, and many already do [116:51])
• Q: Would reopening mental health institutions help? (Yes, with historical caveats) [135:11]
• Q: How do Christians rationalize voting for leftists? (Crowder argues it’s due to lack of true belief and Biblical principle) [137:58]
• Q: Cure for feminism's dominance? (Men should not tolerate or marry it; women should accept male leadership; return to traditional roles) [130:42]

Memorable Humor and Tone

Crowder's delivery is acerbic, combative, and often irreverent, blending gallows humor with righteous anger. The crew interjects with jokes, pop culture references ("The Land Before Cocks", [75:38]), and competitive banter, aiming to keep the mood fast-paced despite the heavy topic.

Structured Timeline: Important Segments and Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamp | |-----------------------------------------------|-------------| | Breaking Shooter Info / Media Critique | 00:01–04:45 | | Disturbing Details from Manifesto & Videos | 09:33–13:13, 33:41–35:47 | | Shooter Identification, Transition Background | 14:54–17:39, 22:15–23:39 | | Cultural/Faith/Fatherhood Analysis | 27:36–39:52, 48:24–57:36 | | Gun Control/Gun-Free Zone Policy Analysis | 56:42–67:07 | | Media Response (Real-Time CNN Tracking) | 85:04–94:25, 102:00–114:27 | | Manifesto Deep Dive, Q&A, Solution Proposals | 114:27–137:58 |

Final Thoughts

The episode serves as both a breaking news report and a vehicle for broader cultural commentary. Crowder and company advance a clear, unapologetically conservative stance: that progressive social trends, fatherlessness, and moral relativism underpin both rising violence and a sense of purposelessness driving such acts. Simultaneously, they call out what they see as media double standards and government overreach, advocating for traditional values, armed self-defense, and transparency in journalism.

For listeners seeking a point-by-point investigation of both the tragic event and its broader sociocultural meaning—as well as an unfiltered right-wing take on media and policy—this episode delivers an extensive, sometimes polemical, but well-documented narrative.