Episode Summary: Ep. 1654 - Joe Biden's Strange WARNING In His Final Speech

Release Date: January 17, 2025
Podcast: The Michael Knowles Show
Host: Michael Knowles, The Daily Wire

Overview

In Episode 1654 of The Michael Knowles Show, host Michael Knowles delves into former President Joe Biden's final speech, where Biden warns Americans about the dangers of oligarchy. Knowles juxtaposes Biden's message with historical warnings from Presidents George Washington and Dwight D. Eisenhower, offering a critical analysis of Biden's presidency, policies, and legacy. The episode also covers a range of topics including political scandals, economic policies, and cultural commentary, enriched with guest insights and audience interactions.

Key Topics and Discussions

1. Biden's Final Warning: Oligarchy

• Timestamp [02:00]: Michael Knowles introduces Biden's concluding remarks, highlighting Biden's caution against oligarchy—a term he equates with excessive wealth and influence threatening democracy.

  "President Biden... has told Americans that his final warning before leaving office is to beware of oligarchy."

• Timestamp [03:12]: Andrew Klavan elaborates on the modern manifestation of oligarchy in America, drawing parallels to Eisenhower's concerns about the military-industrial complex.

  "Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy..."

2. Historical Comparisons: Washington and Eisenhower

• Timestamp [03:50]: Knowles criticizes Biden's invocation of Eisenhower, suggesting Biden's understanding is superficial and driven by personal grievances rather than genuine concern.

  "Biden... dedicates his final speech as president to just whining that Elon Musk backed Donald Trump instead of him."

• Timestamp [05:00]: The discussion shifts to Biden's actions, such as the pardon of Hunter Biden and awarding the Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Soros, which Knowles interprets as hypocritical and indicative of Biden's flawed leadership.

  "Biden, in one of his final acts as president, awards the Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Soros."

3. Michelle Obama's Absence from Inauguration

• Timestamp [07:49]: Knowles speculates on Michelle Obama's reasons for not attending Donald Trump's inauguration, framing it as a rejection of Trump and a statement against traditional protocols.

  "A source close to Michelle Obama told People magazine that Obama will not, quote, pretend for protocol's sake... she's not gonna go, cuz she just hates Trump that much."

4. FBI's Closure of DEI Office and Trump's Incoming Administration

• Timestamp [13:22]: The host discusses the FBI's decision to close its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), interpreting it as an acknowledgment of Trump’s impending presidency and the left's diminished resistance.

  "The FBI has just announced that it's gonna close its Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion."

5. Scandal of Leftist Political Cartoonist

• Timestamp [22:22]: Knowles exposes a scandal involving a renowned leftist political cartoonist allegedly involved in child pornography, emphasizing the hypocrisy and moral decay within left-leaning circles.

  "This guy is not just some random cartoonist. He won the Pulitzer Prize... Authorities claim that a search at this guy's home turned up, quote, 134 videos of child pornography..."

• Timestamp [23:32]: He further analyzes the implications of such scandals, linking sin to intellectual degradation.

  "Sin darkens the intellect. This is a traditional Christian teaching. Sin makes you stupid."

6. Tariff Debate: Scott Besant vs. Ron Wyden

• Timestamp [31:16]: Knowles critiques the recent confirmation hearing between Treasury Secretary nominee Scott Besant and Senator Ron Wyden, praising Besant's economic arguments in favor of tariffs.

  "Besant just had a marvelous confirmation hearing and he completely destroyed Democrat Senator Ron Wyden with facts and logic."

• Timestamp [22:22]: He contrasts the sophisticated arguments presented by Besant with what he perceives as elementary positions held by anti-tariff proponents.

  "The pro tariff side is bringing serious economic arguments... the anti tariff side... is making arguments that are really not much more sophisticated..."

7. Trump's Nomination of Hollywood Ambassadors

• Timestamp [22:40]: The episode satirizes Trump's appointment of Hollywood figures as ambassadors, critiquing the intersection of politics and entertainment.

  "Jon Voight, Mel Gibson and Sylvester Stallone... special ambassadors to a great but very troubled place, Hollywood, California."

• Timestamp [22:54]: Knowles reflects nostalgically on the "golden age of Hollywood," suggesting self-censorship as a foundation for great cinematic achievements.

  "With the Hays Code, we had most of the greatest movies ever made... If we want a golden age of Hollywood, let's send especially these guys."

8. Audience Mailbag: Islam and Immigration

• Timestamp [31:16]: In the mailbag segment, callers pose questions regarding Islamic threats and immigration policies.

  • Caller 1: Discusses the perceived threat of Muslim rape gangs and advocates for a modern crusade against jihadist influences.

    "These globalist leftist Satanists are trying to subjugate the free peoples... a second Hijra is the only solution..."

  • Caller 2: Asks for guidance on handling refugee situations, particularly concerning persecuted Catholics in Nicaragua, while maintaining immigration restrictions.

• Timestamp [35:43]: Knowles responds by addressing the complexity of launching a Crusade in the modern context and advocating for selective refugee admissions aligned with American interests.

  "The best way to fix that would be for a strong US President to, through diplomacy and pressure, get hostile regimes to get in line."

9. Abortion Debate: Abolitionists vs. Incrementalists

• Timestamp [39:03]: Matt Walsh introduces the debate within Christian communities regarding abortion strategies—abolitionists seeking total bans versus incrementalists supporting gradual policy improvements.

  "If you vote for any law that might be better than what we currently have, but doesn't, federally ban abortion... then you are committing a sin."

• Timestamp [40:02]: Knowles advocates for incrementalism, criticizing abolitionists as promoting political quietism and cowardice.

  "Pulling away because one doesn't get what one considers to be the perfect policy... amounts to a cowardice."

Notable Quotes

• Michael Knowles [00:55]:

  "Eisenhower left office warning of the military industrial complex... George Washington left office warning of... entangling alliances... We ignored that one pretty good."

• Andrew Klavan [03:15]:

  "President Eisenhower spoke of the dangers of the military industrial complex... I'm equally concerned about the potential rise of a tech industrial complex."

• Scott Besant [22:22]:

  "They're going to be paid for by our workers and small businesses... I think that's baloney."

• Jeremy Boren [12:15]:

  "I was a hardcore communist... I could shake her off like this."

Insights and Conclusions

Michael Knowles utilizes Biden's final speech as a springboard to critique the Biden administration's policies and actions, positioning them within a broader historical and political context. By drawing parallels to past presidents' warnings, Knowles suggests that Biden's concerns about oligarchy are either misguided or exacerbated by his administration's own actions, such as the pardon of Hunter Biden and the awarding of honors to controversial figures like George Soros.

The episode also highlights perceived hypocrisies within the left, exemplified by the scandal involving a prominent political cartoonist. Knowles argues that moral failings not only discredit individuals but also undermine the ideological battle against leftist agendas.

Economically, the discussion on tariffs underscores a shift from traditional free trade advocacy to a more protectionist stance, with Knowles supporting Scott Besant's arguments against Senator Wyden's opposition.

Culturally, the nomination of Hollywood figures as ambassadors is critiqued as a fusion of entertainment and politics, raising questions about the role of governmental influence in cultural sectors.

In audience interactions, Knowles addresses hot-button issues like Islamic threats and immigration, advocating for strong leadership and selective policies that prioritize national security and American values.

Finally, the abortion debate reflects internal divisions within conservative and Christian communities, with Knowles endorsing a pragmatic, incremental approach over absolutist stances.

Overall, the episode presents a critical and often combative perspective on contemporary American politics, emphasizing the need for vigilance against perceived threats to democracy and cultural integrity.

This summary captures the essence and key discussions of Episode 1654 of The Michael Knowles Show, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners and non-listeners alike.