The Matt Walsh Show – Ep. 1709:

How Anti-White Male Discrimination Is The Root Of Our Decline

Date: December 17, 2025
Host: Matt Walsh (The Daily Wire)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Matt Walsh critically examines a viral Compact Magazine op-ed by Jacob Savage discussing alleged systemic discrimination against white men, particularly in media, academia, and entertainment. Walsh contends that such discrimination is long-standing, has worsened societal outcomes, and that the diminished role of white men is at the root of American decline. The episode also covers the replacement of the Robert E. Lee statue in Congress with one of Barbara Rose Johns, critiques leftist hero-making, and ends with brief commentary on Kamala Harris possibly running for president. Throughout, Walsh’s trademark sarcasm and polemical style are front and center.

1. Viral Op-Ed on Anti-White Male Discrimination

[00:00–20:00]

• Background:
  Jacob Savage’s piece, “The Lost Generation,” is summarized by Walsh as highlighting the rapid decline of white male representation in writing and directing roles in Hollywood and TV.

• Key statistics cited:

  • “In 2011, the year I moved to Los Angeles, white men were 48% of lower-level TV writers. By 2024, they accounted for just 11.9%. Women of color made up 34.6%. White men directed 69% of TV episodes in 2014 and just 34% by 2021. But that remaining third went overwhelmingly to established names, leaving little space for younger white men.” [04:20]
  • Since 2021, of 11 directors under 40 nominated for Emmys, none were white men.
  • Disney Writing and Directing programs allegedly gave “zero fellowships” to white men over the last decade.

• Institutional bias examples:

  • A Hollywood showrunner told a white applicant, “we already have too many white people on staff.”
  • Dan Erickson, creator of Apple TV’s “Severance,” could not get staff jobs despite accolades.

• Walsh’s summary:

  • The article’s author, instead of expressing anger at the people or system that discriminated against him, blames himself.
  • Walsh claims leftist media only admits such discrimination when “it can’t be denied anymore,” likening such stories to “permission pieces.”
    • “You get a permission piece when the Left’s hand is forced… but there’s never any accountability for the liars.” [13:55]

2. Historical Context and Critique

[20:00–35:00]

• Walsh argues anti-white discrimination is not new:

  • Cites the 2003 Supreme Court case on University of Michigan’s racial preferences and affirmative action in the 1960s onward.
  • “The idea that DEI and anti-white racism only became a systemic barrier in 2014 is not remotely true.” [22:19]

• Consequences of discrimination:

  • Downstream effects include declining life prospects for white men, increased depression/opioid use, and general societal decline.
    • “Everything in society gets worse as a result.” [26:41]
  • “White men are forbidden to acknowledge the achievements of their group, let alone have pride.”

• Direct assertion of white male achievement:

  • “A hugely disproportionate number of our greatest leaders, innovators, pioneers, explorers, philosophers and so on have been white men.” [28:40]
  • “In aggregate, based on every existing piece of available evidence, white men are better at all of these tasks than the allegedly underprivileged communities that are replacing them. And if that sounds harsh, I really don’t care. It happens to just be true.” [30:04]

3. Cultural and Political Critique

[35:00–45:00]

• On “abolishing” white males and cultural production:

  • BuzzFeed’s 2015 piece “23 Writers with Messages for Straight White Male Publishing” cited as emblematic of anti-white sentiment.
  • Walsh sarcastic about the quality of shows with diverse writers: “Can you give me an example of a show where the writers’ room is mostly women and minorities and the show is good? I think there’s not one example of that.” [37:59]
  • Argues that “greatness” and almost all foundational achievements stem predominantly from white men.

• Lament on cultural memory:

  • Comparing how different ethnic groups are encouraged to express pride versus white men.
  • “It is suicidal to target this group of all groups for ostracization and alienation.” [41:01]

4. Replacement of Robert E. Lee Statue in Congress

[45:00–56:00]

• Barbara Rose Johns statue critique:
  • Outrage or bewilderment at obscure figure replacing Lee.
  • “Who the hell is Barbara Rose Johns? You see that and you’re thinking, am I supposed to know who this person is?” [46:34]
  • “She protested for ‘equal education opportunities’ at 16 in Farmville, and then became a librarian… This is what gets you a statue? You held a picket sign when you were sixteen and then became a librarian?” [47:45]
  • Asserts leftist side “manufactures heroes” due to lack of historical figures who fit contemporary politics.
  • Claims most “real” heroes are white men, but “great men are complicated,” making them off-limits to modern leftists.
  • The proliferation of statues to lesser-known black women serves as a “demoralizing” gesture to Walsh, who prefers even “evil but significant men” to “unremarkable nobodies.”

5. Reappraisal of Robert E. Lee and Critique of GOP

[56:00–60:00]

• Praise for Lee:

  • Labelled as “a great man. He was a brilliant military technician. He was a leader of men.”
  • Relays Lee’s Civil War exploits (esp. Chancellorsville) as evidence of “greatness.”

• Frustration with Republicans:

  • GOP blamed for not preventing statue removal:
    • “Not only let it, but participate in the humiliation ritual. Not just letting it happen, we’re participating in it.” [59:40]
    • Questions the point of electing Republicans if they “sit there and applaud this.”

6. Immigration and Scripture: Police Chief’s Biblical Allusion

[49:33–52:00]

• Minneapolis police chief invokes the Biblical story of Mary and Joseph (outsiders turned away at the inn) in critiquing ICE raids.
• Walsh’s retort:
  • “When someone says raised Catholic… What you mean is you’re no longer Catholic. You’re not practicing, and you don’t care about your faith.” [50:20]
  • Rebukes misapplication of Scripture; claims left only reference the Bible on immigration, ignoring it elsewhere.

7. Kamala Harris 2028: Sarcastic Plea to Democrats

[61:00–64:00]

• Axios reports Kamala Harris may run in 2028.
• Walsh’s satirical plea:
  • “If Kamala is thinking about running for president again, as somebody on the other side, I must say… that I hope that does not happen. That would be a disaster for our side. My God. My God.” [61:12]
  • Lists “qualities” like high intelligence, oratory, accomplishments (all sarcastically):
    • “She has the comedic chops of Norm MacDonald, the intelligence of Albert Einstein, the political genius of Abraham Lincoln, the leadership skills of Julius Caesar, the beauty of Kathy Griffin. She’s really got it all going on.” [63:25]
  • Begs Democrats not to nominate her for the sake of mercy and sportsmanship.

8. Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Discrimination and Society:

  • “The biggest and most important downstream consequence of this open discrimination against white men is that everything in society gets worse as a result.” [26:41]

• On Statues and Historical Memory:

  • “Now we stand on the shoulders of, like, three or four random black women who accomplished basically nothing.” [53:25]

• On Republican Complicity:

  • “What’s the point of being in power if we’re going to let this happen?… Not just letting it, we’re participating in it.” [59:40]

• On Selective Use of Scripture:

  • “Immigration is one of the only topics they’ll pull out the Bible. Then on every other topic… ‘Hey, don’t try to force your religion on me.’ That’s the game.” [52:30]

• On Kamala Harris:

  • “She talks about Venn diagrams all the time. It’s very relatable. Because when she’s talking about Venn diagrams, everyone else is saying, I love Venn diagrams, too.” [63:00]

9. Tone and Style

Matt Walsh’s delivery is polemical, sarcastic, and confrontational. He uses historical references, direct address, and overwrought analogies to underscore perceived absurdities in contemporary culture and politics. Walsh’s rhetorical strategy often mixes scorn with sardonic humor when discussing opposing views or public figures.

10. Timeline of Key Segments

• 00:00–20:00: Viral op-ed on anti-white male discrimination in media and stats review
• 20:00–35:00: Historical background, longer DEI timeline explained, assertion of white male achievement
• 35:00–45:00: Cultural decline, Buzzfeed listicle critique, effect of diversity in writers’ rooms
• 45:00–56:00: Barbara Rose Johns statue and historical hero construction
• 56:00–60:00: Robert E. Lee’s legacy and critique of GOP fecklessness
• 49:33–52:00: Biblical argument for immigration and rebuttal
• 61:00–64:00: Kamala Harris for president (sarcastic riff)
• (Sporadic sponsor spots, not summarized)

Summary

Matt Walsh offers a sweeping cultural and political critique centered on the theme that discrimination against white men is not only real but catastrophic for America’s institutions, culture, and future. Using recent reporting and selectively chosen statistics, he questions the legitimacy of new historical icons while arguing that society’s leaders, creators, and innovators have overwhelmingly been white men—a fact he states modern America rejects at its own peril. The removal of a Robert E. Lee statue and possibility of Kamala Harris running in 2028 serve as entry points for further satirical and polemical commentary. Throughout, Walsh’s tone is combative, sarcastic, and unapologetic, targeting perceived leftist cultural trends and what he casts as Republican complicity.