Mark Levin Podcast – December 3, 2025
Episode Title: The Dangers of Ignoring History in Today's Politics
Host: Mark Levin (Cumulus Podcast Network)
Theme: The dangers of dismissing history and tradition within conservative politics, the risk of ideological extremism, and the consequences for American society and elections.
Episode Overview
Mark Levin delivers a passionate critique of growing ignorance and disdain for history among both left- and right-wing populists, arguing that turning away from the foundational principles and lessons of America's past endangers not only the conservative movement but the country itself. In this wide-ranging episode, Levin warns that new political influencers and commentators eager to “start fresh” threaten to undermine core values, rewrite history, and open the door to extremism. He connects these themes to current political issues—immigration, Marxism, economic policy, media grifting, and debates over Republican leadership—and closes with a discussion on how ignoring history damages the movement’s future at the polls.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Importance of History – A Warning to Conservatives
Timestamp: 01:55–16:38
- Foundations Matter: Mark Levin opens with a meditation on the critical importance of learning from historical figures, eras, and struggles, from Socrates to the Founding Fathers and Reagan.
- Generational Ignorance: He criticizes young internet influencers who dismiss prior achievements and conservative luminaries, noting:
"The ego, the narcissism that many in the current young generation have is beyond belief to me. And you see it all over the podcast world, all over the so-called influencers, all over the Internet." (10:00)
- Denying History Breeds Extremes: Ignoring or mocking history opens the door to fascist, Marxist, and bigoted currents; both left and right bear responsibility.
- Assimilation and Patriotism: Levin ties the American story to the necessity of assimilation for immigrants, warning that when citizens themselves despise national traditions and culture, immigrants have little to emulate.
Notable Quote:
"When we dismiss our history, we will fail like every other nation, every other society, every other people. The reason our history is important is... because it teaches us many things..." (03:12)
2. Attack on Conservative Icons and Hypocrisy of New Influencers
Timestamp: 06:30–16:38, 20:18–30:52
- Denigration of Reagan and Trump: Levin bristles at right-wing figures who belittle Reagan's legacy and forecasts they will treat Trump the same way, noting that past text messages from these same influencers show contempt for Trump.
- Critique of the “America First” Crowd: Levin questions how anyone can claim to be "America First" while disregarding foundational American history or flirting with anti-American, anti-Semitic, and anti-Christian rhetoric:
"How can you be America first when you don't even know what America is? When you don't even understand our history, our principles, our founding?" (13:36)
- Hypocrisy on Foreign Authoritarianism: He highlights right-wing figures associating with regimes like Qatar for money and influence, warning of the dangers of sanitizing autocratic regimes.
Notable Quote:
"If we are defined by the lowest of low lives... if we are defined by people who promote Sharia law over Judeo-Christian values... we are going to get our asses kicked." (15:21)
3. Economic Policy: Rejecting ‘Socialism Lite’ and Learning from the Past
Timestamp: 20:18–30:52
- Affordability vs. Prosperity: Levin argues that true prosperity comes from a commitment to capitalism and growth, not watered-down socialism or central planning.
- Historical Successes as Blueprints: He stresses learning from the economic achievements of past conservatives:
"They should pay a little bit more attention to Milton Friedman and to Mises and Hayek and to Adam Smith and to Bastiat... a little bit more attention to the massive economic and electoral successes of President Reagan..." (26:11)
- Dangers of “Rhino” and Neo-Fascist Approaches: He accuses certain right-leaning influencers of advocating for policies even further left than liberals, diluting the conservative cause’s coherence and appeal.
4. Current Political Figures Under Fire
Timestamp: 30:53–38:07
- Mark Kelly and Chinese Funding Allegations: Levin highlights reporting that Arizona Senator Mark Kelly’s company received venture funding from China, calling into question his judgment and fitness for office.
- Open Cabinets and Trump’s Leadership Style: He praises Trump’s open and “democratic” cabinet meetings and criticizes the previous administration for its opacity.
5. Immigration and Assimilation: The Somali Example and Critique of Ilhan Omar
Timestamp: 38:07–54:35
- Trump on Somali Immigration: Levin shares Trump’s blunt Cabinet statements about Somali immigrants and Ilhan Omar, condemning perceived lack of assimilation and gratitude.
- Trump: "Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage. These aren't people that work..." (40:45)
- Systemic Fraud Allegations: Secretary Kristi Noem alleges extensive fraud in visa and welfare programs for Somali immigrants in Minnesota.
- Support for Patriotic Muslims: Levin distinguishes between Islamists and Muslims who are loyal Americans (e.g., Zuhdi Jasser).
- Rich Lowry Piece: Levin cites Lowry's argument that gratitude and assimilation should guide immigration policy, not political utility for Democrats.
6. Race and Cultural Dehumanization – Critique of Left and Right
Timestamp: 54:35–62:35
- Racism is Racism: Levin plays a controversial clip by Wajahat Ali (Daily Beast) discussing demographic change in America and critiques it as racist and dehumanizing.
- “Nick Fuentes of the Left”: Levin equates white-bashing rhetoric from minority commentators with the bigotry he condemns on the far right.
- Warns Against Identity Politics: Affirms that condemning people by race or ethnicity is always wrong, regardless of the target group.
Notable Quote:
"You don't put down people because of their skin color, because of their race... That's certainly my view. This is the dehumanization of people." (54:35)
7. Economic Recovery and Energy Prices Under Trump
Timestamp: 62:35–70:57
- Prosperity Through Growth: Levin praises declining gas prices, Trump’s energy policies, and economic growth, citing declining inflation and job creation.
- Trump: "We're now at about $2.50 a gallon. We're going to be, I think, at $2 a gallon. We could even crack that at some point..." (68:48)
- Blue State Gas Taxes: Discusses the burden of state gas taxes, especially in California, and lambastes Democratic leadership for high taxation and regulatory costs.
8. Venezuela, War Crimes Allegations, and "Fog of War"
Timestamp: 78:09–83:56
- On Strikes Against Narco-Terrorists: Levin discusses reports of US strikes against Venezuelan drug boats, defending actions as necessary and dismissing criticisms from politicians and media as misguided.
- Pete Hegseth: "This is called the fog of war. This is what you and the press don't understand... you sit in your air-conditioned offices or up on Capitol Hill and you nitpick..." (80:10)
- MAGA Isolationism vs. Interventionism: Levin skewers right-wing influencers for being selectively isolationist depending on whether the cause is “America-friendly” or not.
9. Campaign Politics – California and Beyond
Timestamp: 96:05–108:41
- Interview with Steve Hilton: Discussion about the possibility of a Republican governor in California, the primary system, and Democratic arrogance. Hilton outlines his platform focusing on reducing government bloat, reversing climate regulations, and lowering costs for Californians.
- Steve Hilton: "We've got to cut the bloat in the government, cut the spending so we can cut taxes." (99:40)
- Contrast to Democratic Policies: Both agree that the failures in California and New York showcase the perils of unchecked one-party rule, arguing for bold conservative alternatives.
- Electoral Strategy: Hilton stresses the need for principled, clear alternatives to Democratic “insanity” in blue states, rather than compromising with “Democrat lite” policies.
Notable Quotes
| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 03:12 | Mark Levin | "When we dismiss our history, we will fail like every other nation, every other society, every other people. The reason our history is important is... because it teaches us many things..." | | 10:00 | Mark Levin | "The ego, the narcissism that many in the current young generation have is beyond belief to me. And you see it all over the podcast world, all over the so-called influencers, all over the Internet." | | 13:36 | Mark Levin | "How can you be America first when you don't even know what America is? When you don't even understand our history, our principles, our founding?" | | 40:45 | Donald Trump (at Cabinet) | "Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage. These aren't people that work..." | | 54:35 | Mark Levin | "You don't put down people because of their skin color, because of their race... That's certainly my view. This is the dehumanization of people." | | 80:10 | Pete Hegseth | "This is called the fog of war. This is what you and the press don't understand... you sit in your air-conditioned offices or up on Capitol Hill and you nitpick..." | | 99:40 | Steve Hilton | "We've got to cut the bloat in the government, cut the spending so we can cut taxes." |
Timestamps for Key Segments
- History & Conservative Foundations: 01:55–16:38
- Denigration of Reagan/Trump & Influence of "New Right": 06:30–16:38
- Economy and Reaganomics: 20:18–30:52
- Critique of Mark Kelly: 30:53–38:07
- Trump & Cabinet on Immigration: 38:07–54:35
- Wajahat Ali & Race Discussion: 54:35–62:35
- Energy Policy & Economic Improvement: 62:35–70:57
- Venezuela Narco-Terror Strike Debate: 78:09–83:56
- Interview with Steve Hilton: 96:05–108:41
Conclusion
In this episode, Mark Levin forcefully warns that discarding historical wisdom and conservative tradition in favor of iconoclasm and ideological shortcuts spells disaster for the conservative movement and the nation. He lambasts grifting influencers, defends assimilation and patriotic values, and argues that sustained economic prosperity and effective governance are rooted in heeding the lessons—both triumphs and failures—of the past. The counsel is clear: America, and its conservative movement, cannot afford to start from scratch every election cycle. History matters, and ignoring it comes with grave risks at the ballot box and beyond.