Nightly Scroll with Hayley – Episode Summary

Episode: “Homeschooling, ICE, and the GOP's Future”

Guest: Madison Cawthorn
Date: January 23, 2026
Host: Hayley Caronia

Overview

In this episode of Nightly Scroll, Hayley Caronia sits down with former Congressman Madison Cawthorn—now a candidate in Florida’s 19th District—for a spirited, unapologetic, and wide-ranging discussion on homeschooling, state and federal education policy, recent political turmoil in Minnesota, Trump’s foreign policy in Venezuela and Greenland, the impacts of suburban voters, America’s economic future, and what it will take for the GOP to succeed in the 2026 midterms. The episode is rich with personal insight, bold policy stances, and memorable conservative commentary delivered in Hayley’s signature no-holds-barred style.

Key Topics & Discussion Points

1. Madison Cawthorn's Political Origins & The Impact of Homeschooling

Timestamps: 01:00 – 08:00

• Cawthorn credits his entry into politics to being homeschooled and classically educated, as well as a desire to disrupt a system failing younger generations.
  • “You can either be involved in politics or be damned to be ruled by lesser men.” (Madison Cawthorn, 02:05)
• He describes 2019-2020 political climate: generational differences, the influence of social media, and the inadequacy of long-serving politicians.
• Homeschooling framed as a foundational force:
  • “If I saw a kid was homeschooled, oh, I know, okay. This person's a self-starter… They were taught the necessity to learn and to keep themselves committed…” (Madison Cawthorn, 06:43)
• COVID-19 cited as the catalyst for homeschooling’s mainstream growth: parents got a firsthand look at failing public education and “woke” curricula.

2. Education Policy: The Woke Curriculum and Federal Overreach

Timestamps: 08:00 – 11:45

• Cawthorn vigorously calls for dismantling the federal Department of Education:
  • “If you send your children to the state or if you send your children to Roman schools, don't be surprised when they return as Romans.” (Madison Cawthorn, 10:24)
• Blames critical race theory, federal mandates, and post-2008 shifts under Obama for present generation’s divides.
• Advocates states’ rights and local control over education:
  • “Send the power of what your children need to learn by back to the states…functions almost as a different country.” (Madison Cawthorn, 11:09)
• Hayley echoes: “It's pretty unnecessary…we're not all the same, not one size fits all.” (Hayley Caronia, 11:40)

3. Term Limits, Congressional Entrenchment & The Deep State

Timestamps: 12:26 – 15:40

• Cawthorn denounces Congress as a “lifelong career” and backs term limits, but insists they must apply equally to bureaucrats (“the deep state”).
  • “Anybody who says Congress is the best job in the world… I don't know what kind of terrible life they lived prior to this.” (Madison Cawthorn, 12:27)
• Critiques institutionalized power, insider trading, and persistent re-election via massive funding.
• Humorously calls for a public wheelchair race against aging members:
  • “I challenge any one of those guys to a wheelchair race, I guarantee I win. If I do, you have to drop out.” (Madison Cawthorn, 15:06)

4. Florida vs. “Minnesota Craziness”: Protests, Crime, and Rights

Timestamps: 15:25 – 18:10

• Cawthorn and Hayley contrast red-state Florida's law and order with the chaos in Minnesota.
• Applauds citizen journalists like Nick Shirley for exposing fraud.
• Condemns political violence, hypocrisy on gun control, and lawless protests:
  • “I can understand why Democrats believe so hard in gun control—because I see what they do when they actually do get guns.” (Madison Cawthorn, 17:22)
• Praises “armed society is a polite society” and Florida’s self-defense laws.

5. ICE, Protests, and Trump’s Policies

Timestamps: 18:10 – 19:40

• Hayley and Cawthorn identify anti-ICE protests as a proxy for broader anti-Trump anger.
• Reframe Trump’s administration as a return to conservative law and order, military power, and focus on key missions.

6. Foreign Policy: Venezuela, Greenland, Panama Canal & American Power

Timestamps: 19:44 – 26:44

• Cawthorn enthusiastically supports the US operation to extradite Maduro, sees it as just, swift force for American interests.
  • “6 minutes and 34 seconds for us to go secure 50 billion barrels of oil… That is exactly what I voted for.” (Madison Cawthorn, 20:26)
• Strongly backs the Roosevelt Corollary: America should dominate the Western Hemisphere, protect key resources, and assertively counter China and Russia.
• Advocates retaking control of the Panama Canal through leverage, not necessarily force.
• Criticizes military-industrial complex and neocon “war hawks”:
  • “If they're going to hate us, let's go ahead and be exactly what they say we are.” (Madison Cawthorn, 24:24)
• Argues US hegemony is preferable to Chinese dictatorship, ties it to resource security and AI dominance:
  • “If we don’t win the AI race, if we don’t have the rare earth minerals… China will become the next superpower… The CCP are evil, they are vile, they are godless.” (Madison Cawthorn, 25:35)

7. Virginia Politics, Crime Softness & The “Feel-Good Vote”

Timestamps: 26:44 – 31:21

• Hayley spotlights “third world” policy proposals in Virginia (weakened cooperation with ICE, removing minimum sentences for violent crimes).
• Cawthorn blames leftward drift on “college-educated white women”—arguing they vote based on misguided compassion rather than logic:
  • “It sounds really aggressive, it's college-educated white women primarily…they're voting based on their feelings.” (Madison Cawthorn, 27:50)
  • Calls for harsh capital punishment for crimes against children.

8. OnlyFans, Sexual Morality & “Conservative Libertarian” Social Policy

Timestamps: 31:21 – 34:43

• Hayley asks about taxing OnlyFans; Cawthorn supports a “sin tax” and rails against the societal fallout of sexual immorality.
  • “Boobs are the downfall of society. You heard it here first.” (Hayley Caronia, 34:43)
• References historical decline of civilizations due to sexual license; advocates a return to values-based society—but still classifies himself as a “hardcore libertarian” with strict social morals.

9. Focusing GOP Energy: Infighting, the 2026 Midterms & Core Issues

Timestamps: 34:43 – 40:49

• Concern over conservative “infighting” and lack of unity:
  • “I think it really shows how much Charlie Kirk held together this amazing coalition that Donald Trump built…he was the field general.” (Madison Cawthorn, 35:24)
• Urges the GOP to shift focus: from elite and global concerns to “dining room politics”—housing, jobs, and affordability for American families.
• Proposes dramatic tax relief for families with four or more kids; lambastes corporate real estate speculation and unaffordable housing.
• Calls for sweeping government regulatory rollback, drilling, energy independence, reigning in the Federal Reserve, and ending fiat currency.
• “If we don't fix our problems here in the United States of America, then what is going to happen…?” (Madison Cawthorn, 40:23)

10. Madison Cawthorn’s Closing Pitch to Voters

Timestamps: 41:01 – 42:47

• Cawthorn appeals directly to Florida’s 19th:
  • “My voting card belongs to my district and the people of my generation, the people who need help inside of this country. We are here to fight for Americans. I will never sell you out to any other interest…” (Madison Cawthorn, 41:20)
• Reiterates his commitment to policy over special interests: “My price is my life. If you want me to go against what my true beliefs are, you have to kill me.” (Madison Cawthorn, 42:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On why run for office:
  “When I started talking to these people… the entire hearts and minds of the next generation were being warped and taken.” (Madison Cawthorn, 03:31)

• On federal education dictates:
  “If you send your children to the state or if you send your children to Roman schools, don’t be surprised when they return as Romans.” (Madison Cawthorn, 10:24)

• On Congress and age:
  “I challenge any one of those guys to a wheelchair race, I guarantee I win. If I do, you have to drop out.” (Madison Cawthorn, 15:06)

• On the necessity of American might:
  “If they’re going to hate us, let’s go ahead and be exactly what they say we are.” (Madison Cawthorn, 24:24)

• On suburban women’s political impact:
  “The number one problem, and this sounds really aggressive, it’s college-educated white women primarily.” (Madison Cawthorn, 27:50)

• On OnlyFans and social decay:
  “I think that men did greater things when it was harder to see boobs.” (Madison Cawthorn, 32:23)
  “Boobs are the downfall of society. You heard it here first.” (Hayley Caronia, 34:43)

• Ultimate commitment:
  “My price is my life. If you want me to go against what my true beliefs are, you have to kill me.” (Madison Cawthorn, 42:40)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• How Madison got into politics & homeschooling: 01:00 – 08:00
• Education policy critique: 08:00 – 11:45
• Term limits, congressional issues: 12:26 – 15:40
• Minnesota vs. Florida (protests, crime): 15:25 – 18:10
• Trump’s foreign policy (Venezuela/Greenland): 19:44 – 26:44
• Democratic policy criticism, suburban voters: 26:44 – 31:21
• OnlyFans and social morals: 31:21 – 34:43
• GOP infighting & 2026 midterms: 34:43 – 40:49
• Cawthorn’s campaign pitch: 41:01 – 42:47

Final Thoughts

This episode is a classic example of Hayley’s brash, energetic brand of conservative media—rapid-fire, packed with personal stories and direct challenges, delivered with humor and sharp critique. Madison Cawthorn is upfront about what he wants to do in Congress, what he sees as the GOP’s priorities, and how he thinks the nation must fight back against both cultural and political decline. Whether listeners agree or not, this is a revealing look at the mindset and strategy shaping the MAGA wing of the GOP as it looks to the next election cycle.