Podcast Summary: The Megyn Kelly Show | Episode 939

Title: Why Working Class Turned to Trump, and Kamala's Uniquely Terrible Campaign, with Batya Ungar-Sargon
Host: Megyn Kelly
Guest: Batya Ungar-Sargon
Episode Number: 939
Air Date: [Insert Air Date]
Duration: Approximately 46 minutes

Introduction

In Episode 939 of The Megyn Kelly Show, host Megyn Kelly engages in a compelling discussion with political commentator Batya Ungar-Sargon about the surprising electoral successes of Donald Trump and the shortcomings of Kamala Harris's campaign. The conversation delves into the dynamics between America's working class and the political elites, media biases, and the implications for future elections.

1. Elites Betraying America's Working Class

Key Points: Batya Ungar-Sargon argues that the Democratic elites have systematically betrayed America's working men and women, leading to a seismic shift in political allegiance towards Donald Trump.

• Class Divide vs. Racial or Political Divide:
  Ungar-Sargon emphasizes that the fundamental division in America is now between the working class and the elites, rather than racial or traditional political lines.
  “This was an election that revealed finally that the real divide in America is not racial, it's not even political. It is the class divide separating the American working class from the elites.”([03:55])

• Working Class Values:
  She highlights the working class's patriotism, moderation, and struggle, which aligned with Trump's messaging, leading many long-time Democratic voters to switch allegiance.
  “The American working class is unbelievably tolerant, they are deeply patriotic, they are radical moderates, and they are struggling. That is who Donald Trump spoke to and ended up picking off a lot of Democratic voters because his agenda spoke directly to the character of the American working class.”([04:31])

2. Media Bias and Declining Trust

Key Points: Megyn Kelly points out the pervasive bias in mainstream media, which often undermines trust among the general populace.

• Manipulation of News:
  Kelly discusses how media outlets manipulate stories based on who controls them, leading to a platform like Ground News, which strives for transparency by highlighting political biases and corporate influences.
  “...how stories can be shaped or buried or killed or manipulated depending on who's in charge. And this is why I want to tell you about a platform that does not play by those rules.”([01:50])

• Example of Media Blind Spots:
  She cites a Gallup survey showing declining trust in mass media and how left-leaning media ignored underreported stories, with Ground News providing balanced coverage.
  “On Ground news more than 80% of the coverage of this story is coming from right-leaning sources.”([02:39])

3. The Failure of Kamala Harris's Campaign

Key Points: The discussion shifts to Kamala Harris's unsuccessful campaign, analyzing the factors that contributed to its downfall.

• Elites' Support and Class Disconnect:
  Ungar-Sargon mentions that Wall Street favored Kamala Harris by a significant margin, illustrating the disconnect between the elites and the working class.
  “Wall street favored Kamala Harris over Donald Trump by 75% to 25%. It's not just the celebrities, it's not just the rich glitterati from Hollywood. It's the elites overall.”([03:55])

• Condescending Elitism:
  Kelly critiques the elitist attitudes of Democratic elites, portraying them as out of touch and morally superior, which alienates the average voter.
  “They are alienating all this middle ground people by acting like you're better than us, smarter than us, and frankly insulting our intelligence.”([05:33])

• Negative Campaign Tactics:
  The conversation highlights how the Democratic Party's negative tactics, such as labeling Trump supporters as Nazis or racists, have backfired by alienating a large segment of voters.
  “They are alienating all this middle ground people by acting like you're better than us, smarter than us, and frankly insulting our intelligence.”([05:33])

• Case Study - Dr. Arlene's Encounter:
  Kelly recounts a viral interaction between Dr. Arlene and a sales clerk, showcasing the elitist attitude and lack of respect for working-class voters.

  Dr. Arlene: “I'm telling you right now, the numbers are there. She's taking this election.” ([08:25]
  Megyn Kelly: “Dr. Arlene. You can take your champagne and shove it up your.” ([09:55])

4. Immigration Policy and Economic Impact

Key Points: A critical analysis of immigration policies, highlighting how open borders have disadvantaged the working class and benefited elites.

• Democrats' Shift on Immigration:
  Ungar-Sargon explains that Democrats once advocated for strong borders to protect American workers but shifted towards open borders under elite influence.
  “When Donald Trump showed up on the scene and closed that border and working class wages started to go up, the Democratic party reformulated itself in opposition to him...”([24:34])

• Impact on Wages and Employment:
  She asserts that open borders have allowed elites to exploit cheaper labor, undermining American workers' wages and job security.
  “It is an alibi for wage theft by the elites of the working class.”([16:25])

• Future Implications:
  The conversation suggests that reverting to stricter immigration policies is essential for the Democratic Party to regain working-class support.
  “The real question is on immigration. Can they go back to their position on immigration from the 90s and the 2000s?”([25:00])

5. Financial Mismanagement in Democratic Campaigns

Key Points: Kelly and Ungar-Sargon critique the Democratic Party's excessive spending in campaigns, leading to financial losses and ineffective outreach.

• Exorbitant Campaign Spending:
  They discuss how Kamala Harris's campaign was financially unsustainable, spending $1 billion and ending up $20 million in debt without achieving significant electoral gains.
  “She was reportedly $20 million in the hole. They spent it all.”([27:12])

• Ineffective Use of Funds:
  The strategy of paying celebrities to attend rallies failed to resonate with the working-class voters, resulting in poor election outcomes despite massive financial investment.
  “They spent so much, they wound up with absolutely nothing.”([26:21])

• Comparison with Trump’s Campaign:
  Contrastingly, Trump's campaign operated with a fraction of the Democratic spending yet secured a decisive victory, underscoring the inefficiency of Democratic financial strategies.
  “They actually spent a billion dollars and lost against someone spending a fraction of that amount.”([44:34])

6. Media Personalities and Public Perception

Key Points: The episode critiques various media personalities and their roles in shaping public perception against Trump and the working class.

• Stephen Colbert and Other Media Figures:
  Kelly criticizes comedians and media pundits like Stephen Colbert for undermining Trump's support base by portraying Trump voters as ignorant or harmful to society.
  “Completely clueless. And it's not surprising to see him struggling, Gutfeld soaring.”([04:31])

• Joy Reid's Commentary:
  Joy Reid’s explanation of Latino voters' support for Trump is dissected, highlighting anti-Black sentiments and desires to assimilate into white privilege as driving factors.
  “Latinos are anti black. They want to be white. That's why they voted for Trump.”([15:36])

• Claire McCaskill's Praise of Kamala Harris:
  Kelly mocks Claire McCaskill's overly flattering remarks about Harris, portraying them as detached and out of touch with reality.
  “I'm so proud. I don't think people realize how hard it is to get to where she was...” ([28:38])

7. The Future of the Democratic Party and Political Landscape

Key Points: Forecasting the Democratic Party's trajectory and the potential for realigning political strategies to address working-class concerns.

• Internal Struggles and Lack of Leadership:
  The discussion points to a leadership crisis within the Democratic Party, with no clear successors or strategies to reconnect with the working class.
  “There's no more grown up in the Democratic Party. There's no leader, there's no heir.”([41:05])

• Potential Course Correction:
  Ungar-Sargon notes that there might be a shift towards addressing key issues like immigration and economic policies to regain lost voter trust.
  “But the real question is on immigration. Can they go back to their position on immigration from the 90s and the 2000s?”([25:00])

• Implications for Future Elections:
  The episode speculates that unless the Democratic Party addresses these fundamental issues, they risk further alienation of working-class voters in upcoming elections, including 2028.
  “They have spent so much, they wound up with absolutely nothing.”([44:34])

8. Conclusion and Future Projections

Key Points: Megyn Kelly and Batya Ungar-Sargon conclude the episode with reflections on the implications of the recent election and the path forward for American politics.

• Democratic Loss as a Mandate for Change:
  Kelly underscores that the Democratic losses are a clear mandate from the electorate for change, emphasizing the need for the party to adapt or continue facing defeats.
  “It's a mandate to lead from your fellow Americans. We should all be able to respect that and even admire it.”([44:32])

• Optimism for Future Legislative Changes:
  Despite the challenges, both speakers express hope that Trump's administration can push through meaningful legislative changes that resonate with the working class.
  “Change is coming. I absolutely believe that Trump and this Senate, and hopefully the House too, can get real change pushed through legislatively...”([45:04])

• Final Remarks:
  The episode wraps up with anticipation for future discussions featuring other prominent figures like Charlie Kirk and Glenn Greenwald, promising continued exploration of political dynamics.

Notable Quotes

1. Batya Ungar-Sargon on Class Divide:
   “This was an election that revealed finally that the real divide in America is not racial, it's not even political. It is the class divide separating the American working class from the elites.” ([03:55])

2. Megyn Kelly on Media Manipulation:
   “...how stories can be shaped or buried or killed or manipulated depending on who's in charge.” ([01:50])

3. Ungar-Sargon on Working Class Values:
   “...his agenda spoke directly to the character of the American working class.” ([04:31])

4. Megyn Kelly on Elitist Attitudes:
   “They are alienating all this middle ground people by acting like you're better than us, smarter than us, and frankly insulting our intelligence.” ([05:33])

5. Ungar-Sargon on Immigration and Economy:
   “It is an alibi for wage theft by the elites of the working class.” ([16:25])

6. Megyn Kelly on Financial Mismanagement:
   “They actually spent a billion dollars and lost against someone spending a fraction of that amount.” ([44:34])

7. Ungar-Sargon on Democratic Failures:
   “They have spent so much, they wound up with absolutely nothing.” ([44:34])

8. Megyn Kelly on Future Legislative Changes:
   “Change is coming. I absolutely believe that Trump and this Senate, and hopefully the House too, can get real change pushed through legislatively...” ([45:04])

Conclusion

Episode 939 of The Megyn Kelly Show offers a critical examination of the political shifts in America, highlighting the disconnect between the Democratic elites and the working class. Through insightful analysis and pointed critiques, Megyn Kelly and Batya Ungar-Sargon explore the underlying reasons behind Trump's electoral success and Kamala Harris's campaign failures. The discussion underscores the urgent need for political realignment to address the genuine concerns of America's working populace, emphasizing that without such changes, the Democratic Party risks further alienation and electoral losses.