Morning Wire Podcast Summary Episode: The Rise, Impact, and Potential Decline of Woke Ideology | 12.28.24 Release Date: December 28, 2024
Hosts:
- John Bickley, Editor-in-Chief, The Daily Wire
- Georgia Howe, Co-host
Guest:
- Eric Kaufman, Author of The Third Awokening
Introduction to Woke Ideology: Definition and Origins
The episode delves into the multifaceted concept of woke ideology, exploring its historical roots and current manifestations. John Bickley opens the discussion by tracing the origins of wokeism back to the political correctness movements of the 1980s and 1990s, highlighting its evolution into what is now recognized as cancel culture and various protest movements sweeping across the United States.
The Three Waves of Woke Ideology
Eric Kaufman introduces his framework of the Three Awokenings, providing a structured analysis of the ideology's progression:
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First Awokening (Late 1960s): Initiated with pivotal events like the Moynihan Report of 1965, which examined the African American family structure but was controversially shelved by the Johnson administration. This wave also saw the inception of affirmative action.
"[...] affirmative action, of course, in the late 60s. And then we move into what I would call the second awokening." (01:38)
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Second Awokening (1980s-1990s): Characterized by the rise of political correctness and speech codes, marking a consolidation of woke ideology at a higher societal level.
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Third Awokening (Post-2015): The current phase, featuring cancel culture and microaggressions, with strong continuity from previous waves rather than being a mere digital acceleration.
"Post2015 is the third of these waves. So the first wave, I trace this back to the late 60s..." (01:38)
The Moynihan Report and Patterns of Censorship
Kaufman discusses the Moynihan Report, which highlighted a 25% fatherlessness rate among African Americans—a figure that has since soared to 70%. He critiques the political maneuvering that led to the report's suppression, emphasizing a pattern where ideas opposing the dominant woke narrative are censored to protect group sensitivities.
"If you want to express that truth, but it offends the sensitivities of a particular group... then you have to shut up or pay the consequences." (04:55)
Wokeism and Religion: Parallels in Sacredness and Exclusion
Drawing parallels between woke ideology and religious fervor, Kaufman argues that wokeism functions similarly to a public religion, with its own set of sacred values and rituals. This comparison underscores the exclusionary practices inherent in cancel culture and the enforcement of ideological purity.
"Woke is... it looks very much like public religion." (05:16)
Left Liberals vs. Cultural Marxism: Defining the Spectrum
Kaufman distinguishes between left liberals and cultural Marxists, contending that much of what is labeled as wokeism originates from left liberalism rather than traditional cultural Marxism. He explains that while concepts like critical race theory have Marxist roots, many woke practices—such as political correctness and affirmative action—arose independently within left liberal frameworks.
"A lot of what we consider woke actually does not begin with cultural Marxism." (07:18)
The Erosion of Freedom, Truth, and Excellence
The discussion highlights how woke ideology undermines societal pillars by promoting subjective truths over objective realities. Kaufman cites examples like the contested definitions of gender and the prioritization of diversity metrics over merit in academic and professional settings.
"The definition of male and female, you know, that offends trans people to say there are only two sexes. So that's an example of where it erodes truth." (09:15)
Current Trends and Generational Impact
Kaufman analyzes current trends, asserting that despite some visible pushbacks, wokeism remains entrenched and is potentially growing stronger due to generational shifts. He points out that younger demographics exhibit higher levels of adherence to woke principles, contrasting it with historical movements where younger generations often resisted prevailing ideologies.
"The young population that are really a lot more woke than older... when those 20 somethings become the media voter, the culture's really going to change." (10:17)
Strategies for Rolling Back Progressive Extremism: The 12-Point Plan
Kaufman outlines a 12-point plan aimed at dismantling progressive extremism, emphasizing the following key strategies:
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Cultural Emphasis: Elevate the importance of cultural issues within the political right, similar to how the NRA or pro-life organizations function.
"The political right needs to upgrade the importance of culture and particularly these culture war issues." (13:34)
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Educational Reform: Advocate for curriculum changes to present a more balanced historical narrative, countering the one-sided portrayal prevalent in current educational systems.
"You should not be allowed to teach that the US was a slave power... contextualization is so vital." (13:34)
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Accountability Mechanisms: Develop infrastructure to hold politicians accountable for their stances on affirmative action, critical race theory, and similar issues, mirroring existing models that address other policy areas.
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Public Persuasion and Legislation: Implement a dual approach combining moral exhortation with legal measures to counteract woke ideology effectively.
"You've got to do both [government power and persuasion]." (11:55)
Kaufman stresses the urgency of these measures to prevent the further entrenchment of wokeism in American society.
Conclusion
The episode provides a comprehensive examination of woke ideology, tracing its historical development, current impact, and potential future trajectory. Through Eric Kaufman's insights, listeners gain a nuanced understanding of the forces shaping contemporary cultural and political landscapes, along with actionable strategies to address perceived challenges posed by wokeism.
Note: Advertisements, introductory remarks, and non-content segments have been excluded to focus on the substantive discussions of the episode.