Episode Summary: Ep. 1671 - Criminal Alien Hotels? $59 Million WASTED Per Week

Podcast: The Michael Knowles Show
Host: Michael Knowles
Release Date: February 11, 2025
Duration: Approximately 42 minutes

1. Misuse of FEMA Funds for Housing Illegal Aliens

Timestamp: 00:00 - 05:00

Michael Knowles initiates the episode by addressing former President Trump's accusation that the Biden administration misallocated FEMA disaster relief funds to house undocumented migrants in luxury hotels. Highlighting a recent discovery by "Elon's Department of Government Efficiency"—revealing a $59 million FEMA payment to house illegal immigrants in New York City hotels—Knowles emphasizes the disparity between funds allocated for disaster victims and those diverted for undocumented migrants.

Notable Quote:

“$59 million in one week to put fighting age male economic migrants up at the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan? Well, no problem.”
— Michael Knowles [00:02:30]

He critiques the administration's priorities, suggesting that while minor sums are allocated to American citizens, a substantial amount is being wasted on non-citizens.

2. Department of Education's Wasteful Contracts

Timestamp: 05:00 - 15:17

Transitioning to governmental inefficiencies, Knowles references a Daily Caller report by Reagan Reese exposing $900 million squandered across 90 contracts within the Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences. He argues that these contracts do not directly support educational improvements, citing an example of a $1.5 million contract unrelated to core educational goals.

Notable Quote:

“These contracts they found were not directly funding student score improvement, which is the whole purpose of the Department of Education.”
— Michael Knowles [10:45]

He draws parallels to the Pendleton Civil Service Reform Act of 1883, asserting that the civil service has reverted to a patronage system despite historical reforms aimed at meritocracy. Knowles praises Elon Musk and DOGE for uncovering these inefficiencies, suggesting the need for further governmental reforms to prevent ongoing waste and corruption.

3. Discovery of JFK Assassination Files

Timestamp: 15:17 - 29:13

Knowles delves into the revelation of 2,400 previously undisclosed files related to the JFK assassination, as reported by Axios. He critiques the enduring fascination with JFK, contrasting it with other presidents like Garfield and McKinley, whom he views as less competent and consequently less remembered.

Notable Quote:

“JFK was not really a good president at all. He screwed up the Bay of Pigs, he invited the Cuban Missile crisis because he didn't know how to manage Turkey.”
— Michael Knowles [20:30]

He posits that the discovery of these files rekindles distrust in government institutions, linking it to the broader societal issues of the 1960s, such as the Vietnam War and civil unrest. Knowles questions the necessity of revisiting JFK's era, suggesting it symbolizes a critical point where American institutions began to falter.

4. Ilhan Omar's Accusations and the Distinction Between Ethnic Cleansing and Genocide

Timestamp: 29:13 - 39:08

The discussion shifts to Ilhan Omar's allegations against President Trump and Israel, accusing them of planning ethnic cleansing and genocide in Gaza. Knowles dissects her statements, arguing that intentional differentiation between ethnic cleansing and genocide is often blurred for political convenience.

Notable Quote:

“It's not. And they would support certain ethnic cleanses, they would support certain forced movements of people out of territories, but not others.”
— Michael Knowles [35:45]

He provides historical context by citing the 1947 Partition of India and the post-World War II expulsion of ethnic Germans from Eastern Europe, framing them as instances of ethnic cleansing sanctioned by the international community. Knowles contends that Omar conflates these concepts to manipulate public perception, emphasizing the need for consistent moral standards irrespective of political affiliations.

5. Israeli Defense Minister's Proposition on Gazan Refugees

Timestamp: 39:08 - 41:52

Addressing comments from Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, Knowles critiques the assertion that countries like Norway, Ireland, and Spain are "obligated" to accept Gazans fleeing the conflict. He challenges the validity of such claims, arguing that political actions to prevent genocide do not necessarily mandate accepting refugees, thus deeming the statement as a flawed rhetorical tactic.

Notable Quote:

“It is perfectly possible for one to accuse a country of committing any number of crimes up to and including genocide, and still not wish to take those victims into one's country.”
— Michael Knowles [40:10]

Knowles further clarifies his stance, emphasizing that while he acknowledges Israel's right to self-defense, he does not perceive their actions as genocide but rather as an ethnic cleansing aimed at ensuring national security.

6. Dropping of Eric Adams' Corruption Case

Timestamp: 41:52 - 29:13

Knowles discusses the recent dropping of a corruption case against Eric Adams, the Democrat mayor of New York. He draws attention to the timeline, noting Adams' prior public statements criticizing the Biden administration's immigration policies, which intensified shortly before the federal investigation was halted.

Notable Quote:

“Would Eric Adams have had that federal corruption probe had he not criticized the Biden administration? I don't think so.”
— Michael Knowles [25:00]

He suggests that the investigation was a retaliatory move, undermining Adams' credibility and highlighting perceived political vendettas within the current administration.

7. Trump's Interview with Brett Baier: Succession and Tariffs

Timestamp: 29:13 - 41:52

In an exclusive segment, Knowles analyzes former President Trump's interview with Brett Baier, focusing on discussions about potential succession and trade policies.

• Succession Talks: Trump deflects questions about Vice President J.D. Vance being his successor, stating, “No, but he's very capable” ([32:05]). Knowles interprets this as Trump maintaining a flexible stance to keep various administration members motivated and loyal.

• Tariffs on Canada and Mexico: The conversation shifts to Trump's imposition of tariffs on Canada and Mexico, which elicited moderate concessions from these countries. Trump expresses dissatisfaction, indicating that the concessions were insufficient ([39:08]). Knowles posits that Trump views tariffs not merely as negotiation tools but as instruments to ensure sustained American economic dominance and reshore manufacturing.

Notable Quote:

“We owe $36 trillion. That's because we let all these nations take advantage of us.”
— Donald Trump [39:18]

Knowles underscores Trump's emphasis on economic independence and trade fairness, aligning with his broader agenda to fortify America's financial stability.

8. Potential Annexation of Canada and Symbolic Gestures

Timestamp: 41:52 - 42:00

Trump's remarks on potentially annexing Canada as the "51st state" are scrutinized by Knowles, who interprets them as symbolic gestures aligning with historical American expansionist ideologies like Manifest Destiny. He connects Trump's renaming of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America as another step towards territorial expansion.

Notable Quote:

“I think Canada would be much better off being a 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada.”
— Donald Trump [36:20]

Knowles critiques these statements as attempts to rally nationalistic sentiments, reinforcing the notion of American exceptionalism and territorial growth.

9. Media Shifts and Fox News' Acquisition of Red Seat Ventures

Timestamp: 42:00 - 44:00

Concluding the episode, Knowles highlights Fox News' strategic acquisition of Red Seat Ventures, a prominent podcasting company. He notes that this move signifies the media's pivot towards podcasting as the dominant platform for news consumption, forecasting that the "podcast election" of 2024 was a precursor to this shift.

Notable Quote:

“The media are here, the eyeballs, the ears are here. It's in podcasts.”
— Michael Knowles [43:30]

He speculates that major figures like Tucker Carlson and Megyn Kelly's association with Red Seat Ventures indicates a resurgence of influential conservative voices within the podcasting sphere, potentially reshaping the media landscape.

10. Closing Remarks and Upcoming Segments

Timestamp: 44:00 - End

Knowles teases upcoming segments, including a conversation with Jesse Kelly in the "Membrum Segmentum," encouraging listeners to become Daily Wire members to access exclusive content and support the platform's mission to uphold truth and counteract mainstream media biases.

Key Takeaways:

• Governmental Waste and Misallocation: Significant funds intended for disaster relief and education are being diverted for purposes that do not directly benefit American citizens, highlighting systemic inefficiencies.

• Historical Context of Civil Service: Despite reforms aimed at meritocracy, the civil service system has reverted to patronage, necessitating renewed efforts for genuine governmental reform.

• Public Perception of Historical Events: The enduring focus on JFK's assassination contrasts with lesser-known presidencies, reflecting selective historical narratives shaped by subsequent societal upheavals.

• Political Rhetoric on Conflict: Distinctions between ethnic cleansing and genocide are often manipulated for political agendas, with broader implications for international policies and humanitarian responses.

• Media Evolution: The acquisition of podcasting platforms by traditional media outlets like Fox News underscores a transformative shift in how information is disseminated and consumed, emphasizing the growing importance of digital media channels.

Notable Quotes:

1. Michael Knowles on FEMA Funds:

   “$59 million in one week to put fighting age male economic migrants up at the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown Manhattan? Well, no problem.”
   [00:02:30]

2. Michael Knowles on Department of Education Contracts:

   “These contracts they found were not directly funding student score improvement, which is the whole purpose of the Department of Education.”
   [10:45]

3. Donald Trump on Tariffs:

   “We owe $36 trillion. That's because we let all these nations take advantage of us.”
   [39:18]

4. Donald Trump on Annexing Canada:

   “I think Canada would be much better off being a 51st state because we lose $200 billion a year with Canada.”
   [36:20]

5. Michael Knowles on Media Shifts:

   “The media are here, the eyeballs, the ears are here. It's in podcasts.”
   [43:30]

This episode of The Michael Knowles Show provides a critical examination of governmental inefficiencies, historical narratives, international conflicts, and media transformations, all through a conservative lens. With incisive commentary and strategic analysis, Knowles underscores the necessity for accountability, transparency, and media evolution in shaping America's future.