The Michael Knowles Show

Episode 1939 – "The Worst Serial Killer In American History Has Died"
Date: March 25, 2026
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)

Overview of the Episode

Michael Knowles dives into current American political dynamics, culture, and headline news. The main thread explores how trauma-centered personal narratives are being leveraged in Democratic presidential campaigns, media reactions to diversity debates, national security shifts under the Iran war, and the overlooked death of Kermit Gosnell—labeled the "worst serial killer in American history." Knowles examines what these disparate stories signal about our political culture, national memory, and collective values.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Democrats and "Daddy Issues": Personal Trauma as Political Credential

Timestamp: 01:40 – 10:30

• Main Argument: Knowles suggests liberalism is rooted in a spirit of rebellion against authority, distilling it down to: "All of liberalism comes down to three words: Screw you, Dad." (03:10)
• Axios Report: Axios cited leading Democrats centering their campaigns on childhood traumas.
  • Josh Shapiro: Discusses unstable mother and chaotic childhood in memoir; Knowles notes this is increasingly shared as a badge of honor.
  • Gavin Newsom: Open about his parents' issues, mother's mental illness, and eventual suicide; Knowles highlights the performative aspect: "Not only is he super messed up, he is running on being really messed up." (09:05)
  • J.B. Pritzker: Lost his father young, mother was alcoholic—used as public campaign fodder.
• Cultural Shift: Contrasts current confessional style with historical political discretion (e.g., Ronald Reagan minimizing his childhood struggles):
  “Discretion is a good thing, folks. Stiff upper lip is a good thing.” (12:00)

Notable Quote:

"We should not be bragging about these things. In the old days in politics...you would downplay the bad stuff. You would downplay the bad stuff because, one, you wanted to protect your family, and two, you wanted to protect your own image..."
— Michael Knowles (09:30)

Social Media & Victimhood:

• Knowles links this trend to the social media incentive for oversharing and public confession, especially among evangelical circles, which may valorize greater past depravity as testimony.
• Warns of "perverse incentives" in modern culture rewarding suffering/victimhood rather than resilience or discretion. (15:40)

2. Diversity Politics and Party Tensions

Timestamp: 17:20 – 23:55

• California Debate Canceled: New York Times story—USC cancels gubernatorial debate due to "lack of diversity" (all leading candidates are white men), reflecting ideological contradictions on the left between “democracy” (polling) and “liberalism” (identity focus).
  • “... it's all white guys. Well, we can't have that. But hold on, I thought that we supported democracy? ... The problem is the whiteness.” (19:30)
• Liberalism vs. Democracy: Knowles contrasts common leftist usage of “democracy” (as code for “liberalism”) versus popular sovereignty; points out the left will override democratic outcomes if they conflict with their ideological preferences.
• National Implications: Notes similar dynamics with Democratic presidential frontrunners: Shapiro, Newsom, Pritzker, Buttigieg—mostly white men—despite the party’s professed diversity commitment.
  • Kamala Harris: The party’s last diversity gambit is now out of favor after electoral losses.

3. Security, the Iran War, and Shifting National Priorities

Timestamp: 24:00 – 28:50

• Army Raises Enlistment Age to 42: Knowles sees this as a signal for rising global insecurity amid Iran conflict.
  • “When things get more dangerous, we raise the enlistment age to 42, which is a little scary for me.” (25:15)
• End of “Vacation from History”: Compares post-Cold War lull to current world events; perceives a shift toward a more “real” and dangerous world, potential multipolarity, threats to the petrodollar.
• Military Recruitment Changes: Marijuana convictions no longer disqualify enlistment (policy changes take effect on 4/20).
• Implications for Republicans: Warns that foreign interventions, while potentially successful, could dampen domestic focus and cost political capital.

4. The “Podcast Problem” and Electoral Troubles Among Young Men

Timestamp: 26:55 – 34:55

• Polling Data: CNN polling shows a steep drop in Trump’s support among men, especially young men under 25—a dramatic swing compared to prior elections.
  • "Men under the age of 25 on Trump...The net approval rating, way down there, down we go to negative 19." (27:41 - Guest/Political Analyst)
• Role of Podcasts: Asserts that right-wing podcasters (“podcast bros”), previously a boon for the Trump coalition and youth vote, are now diverging from the campaign, causing disunity and lost support among young men.
  • "The podcasters are a real problem...because their interests have diverged from the interests of conservatives in politics proper." (28:05)
• Charlie Kirk’s Assassination: Knowles credits Kirk (posthumously) for mobilizing young conservatives and blames his assassination for splintering the movement and exacerbating the polling downturn.
  • “Assassinations work. That’s why people do them. And this one worked. This one led to a lot of division on the right because they took out one of the clearest leaders of the young right.” (32:38)
• Strategic Call: Urges Republicans to realign political media with electoral goals and prioritize domestic issues in messaging.

5. Trump as Cultural Icon and Domestic Policy Focus

Timestamp: 36:00 – 41:30

• Trump Visits Graceland: Trump links his image to Elvis Presley, emphasizing cultural resonance and domestic achievements—particularly reporting a drop in crime rates in Memphis.
  • “He’s Elvis. He’s larger than life...Controversial, blunt, a lot of beautiful women in his past. The guy’s Elvis.” (38:09)
• Showmanship in Politics: Praises Trump’s showmanship and tactical focus on ‘winning’ issues—crime and border control—rather than potentially divisive ones like the Iran war.
  • "It’s not enough to be right. You need people to be talking about the things that are good for you. That’s the key here." (41:10)

6. The Death of Kermit Gosnell and Abortion Discourse

Timestamp: 41:50 – 46:20

• Who Was Kermit Gosnell?: Philadelphia abortionist convicted of murdering babies born alive and multiple women due to squalid clinic conditions.
  • “The worst serial killer in American history…killed grown women, killed lots of babies. Just a true sociopath serial killer.” (43:20)
• Media Blackout: Knowles argues media deliberately ignored Gosnell’s trial to hide the brutality of abortion practice from the public.
  • “The media didn’t show up. They didn’t want to talk about it because his trial revealed abortion for what it is, which is just butchery, human butchery. That’s all abortion is.” (43:50)
• Final Injustice: Gosnell dies in prison, largely anonymous despite being “the worst serial killer in American history,” symbolizing societal and media denial.

Notable Quote:

"The final injustice is most people still don’t know his name. The final injustice is the completion of the cover-up."
— Michael Knowles (44:30)

7. National Memory and the 9/11 Memorial Controversy

Timestamp: 46:23 – 48:50

• Incident: Islamic banner placed over a 9/11 memorial in a California cemetery causes local outrage.
  • “...on the 25th anniversary of 9/11, we have a communist Muslim as mayor of New York and we're getting Islamic signs placed over 9/11 memorials. So we forgot.” (46:42)
• Three Lanes for Islam in America: Knowles outlines how leftists (who hate Christendom), liberals (who are religiously indifferent), and elements of the far right (who are antisemitic) provide pathways for Islamic influence.
• Islam and American Values: Calls for caution about assimilation and cultural influence, arguing serious, large-scale Muslim immigration poses risks to American culture.

Notable Quote:

“There are three lanes for Islam to gain a greater foothold in the United States...Islam weirdly checks a lot of boxes and this is nothing new. It's been going on since Charles Martel and even earlier.”
— Michael Knowles (48:30)

Notable Moments & Quotes

• On victimhood culture:
  “Victimhood does carry social currency. There are all sorts of these perverse incentives.” (15:10)

• On media ignoring uncomfortable stories:
  “The media didn’t show up. They didn’t want to talk about it because his trial revealed abortion for what it is, which is just butchery, human butchery.” (43:50)

• On the dilemma in the Democratic party:
  “Do we go with democracy or do we go with liberalism? They always go with liberalism, even when it means punishing their own candidates.” (21:49)

• On Trump’s political showmanship:
  “He’s just a pro. No one needs to tell Trump, but we need a little bit of that. We need a little creativity. We need especially focus on domestic issues.” (41:00)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Democratic trauma narratives: 01:40 – 10:30
• Social media and oversharing culture: 11:00 – 17:20
• Diversity and debate cancellation: 17:20 – 23:55
• Army recruitment and Iran war: 24:00 – 28:50
• Republican polling and the "podcast bros": 26:55 – 34:55
• Trump/Elvis, showmanship, and policy focus: 36:00 – 41:30
• Kermit Gosnell’s death and abortion culture: 41:50 – 46:20
• 9/11 memorial and Islam in America: 46:23 – 48:50

Conclusion

Michael Knowles weaves together current events and cultural analysis with polemic verve. He critiques the left’s embrace of victimhood politics, exposes contradictions in identity-driven progressivism, and laments the loss of American memory around national trauma and foundational values. The episode’s climactic focus on the passing of Kermit Gosnell becomes a microcosm of the ways in which society chooses to remember—or forget—its most unsettling truths. The show’s tone is assertive, contrarian, and sharp, with Knowles mixing irony, nostalgia, and provocation for effect.