Podcast Summary: The Michael Knowles Show – Ep. 1718: Get Ready for President AOC

Episode Information:

• Title: Get Ready for President AOC
• Host: Michael Knowles
• Publisher: The Daily Wire
• Release Date: April 18, 2025

1. Nate Silver's Prediction: "President AOC"

Overview: Michael Knowles opens the episode by referencing Nate Silver, a renowned political pollster, who has made a startling prediction: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) could become the President of the United States. This sets the tone for the episode, focusing on the rising influence of AOC within the Democratic Party and the potential ramifications for American politics.

Notable Quotes:

• Michael Knowles [00:00]: "There are two words, really, one word plus three letters that send a chill down the spine of every sensible American. That word. And those letters factor into a prediction from one of America's most prominent political pollsters and prognosticators, Nate Silver. That word and those letters, President, AOC."
• Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [00:24]: "In a Yale poll just out this week, AOC has the highest net favorability rating of any of the Democrats that they asked about. So she's positive, 62%. Harris is second. She's very close. She's net positive, 59%."

2. The Democratic Party's Potential Generational Collapse

Overview: Knowles delves into the current state of the Democratic Party, suggesting that it is on the brink of a generational collapse. He cites various factors, including internal conflicts and controversial incidents, that may undermine the party's stability and electoral prospects.

Key Points:

• Josh Shapiro Incident: Knowles discusses an attempted arson attack on Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, attributing it to pro-Palestinian left-wing activism. He argues that the incident highlights internal divisions and the inability of Democratic leaders like Shapiro to effectively address security and ideological issues within the party.

Notable Quotes:

• Michael Knowles [04:12]: "We've got lots of new updates today that the Democrat Party is headed for a generational collapse."
• Governor Josh Shapiro [05:33]: "I know that there are People out there who want to ascribe their own viewpoints as to what happened here and why."

3. Immigration Policy and Public Opinion

Overview: A significant portion of the episode focuses on immigration, analyzing Trump's policies and their reception among the American populace. Knowles presents data from polls indicating strong public support for stringent immigration measures, contrasting this with the Democrats' apparent missteps on the issue.

Key Points:

• Trump's Immigration Approval Ratings: Despite some negative metrics like tariffs and inflation, Trump's policies on deporting illegal immigrants receive favorable ratings (e.g., +7% on deportations, +12% on southern border security).
• Public Support for Deportations: A CNN poll highlighted that approval for deporting all illegal aliens in America has surged from 38% in 2016 to 56% in 2025, reflecting a significant shift towards Trump's stance.
• Democratic Miscalculations: The Democrats' focus on high-profile cases, such as Kilmar Abrego Garcia, is portrayed as ineffective and detrimental to their overall immigration strategy.

Notable Quotes:

• Bill Maher [13:28]: "Back in 2016, just 38% of voters wanted the government to try to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants compared to where we are in 2025, 56%, the majority."
• Michael Knowles [14:04]: "He made one error here. I'm so delighted by this poll that I don't want to knock him, but he made one error. He said, now the American people are much closer to Donald Trump on immigration. That's not true."

4. Harvard University Under Fire

Overview: Knowles criticizes Harvard University for its handling of civil rights issues, particularly concerning the treatment of Jewish students amidst the Israel-Palestine conflict. He accuses the institution of prioritizing progressive agendas over upholding civil rights laws, leading to potential financial repercussions from the Trump administration.

Key Points:

• Federal Pressure: The Trump administration is threatening to withdraw $9 billion in grants from Harvard, alleging non-compliance with Title 6 of the Civil Rights Act due to ongoing harassment of Jewish students.
• Liberties and Civil Rights: Knowles argues that while liberal elites champion civil rights when it benefits them, they falter when these laws clash with their ideological stances, as seen in Harvard's case.

Notable Quotes:

• Michael Knowles [23:45]: "Harvard's got over $50 billion in its endowment...But they think they're... they're willing to risk the oldest university over the supposed sacred right to harass Jewish students."

5. The Future of MAGA Post-Trump

Overview: The discussion shifts to the future trajectory of the MAGA movement following Trump's presidency. Knowles explores differing viewpoints within the movement, particularly between figures like Peter Navarro and Steve Bannon, and debates the possibility of Trump seeking a third term.

Key Points:

• Steve Bannon's Assertion: Bannon claims that Trump will run for and win a third term in 2029, positioning him as a long-term leader of the MAGA movement.
• Aristocracy vs. Oligarchy: Knowles differentiates between elites who govern for the common good (aristocrats) versus those who do so for private interests (oligarchs), emphasizing the need for the former in society.

Notable Quotes:

• Steve Bannon [32:33]: "President Trump is going to run for a third term. And President Trump is going to be elected again. On the afternoon of January 20th of 2029. He's going to be President of the United States."
• Michael Knowles [33:10]: "The difference comes back to Polybius...aristocrats govern for the common good. Oligarchs govern for private interest."

6. Health and Human Services Secretary Bobby Kennedy on Autism

Overview: Knowles highlights Bobby Kennedy's focus on investigating the environmental factors contributing to the rise in autism rates. He suggests that Kennedy's stance may challenge established positions on vaccine safety and autism causation.

Key Points:

• Autism Epidemic: Kennedy acknowledges a significant increase in autism diagnoses and emphasizes the need to explore environmental causes, subtly alluding to vaccines without explicitly mentioning them.
• Conservative Perspective: Knowles advocates for investigating potential environmental triggers for autism, questioning the dismissal of such links by mainstream authorities.

Notable Quotes:

• Bobby Kennedy [28:17]: "The epidemic is real...Genes do not cause epidemics. It's something environmental."
• Michael Knowles [29:23]: "Do we deny that autism rates have increased dramatically? No. Do we agree that autism is not a desirable condition? It's a problem that people have to deal with? Yeah."

7. Audience Interaction: Mailbag Segment

Overview: The episode features a mailbag segment where listeners submit critiques and questions. Two notable callers discuss Daylight Savings Time and the TikTok ban, challenging Knowles on his interpretations and arguments.

Key Points:

• Daylight Savings Time Critique: A caller corrects Knowles on the historical implementation of Daylight Savings Time, arguing it's a "liberal assault on the reality of time" and suggesting its abolishment.
• TikTok Ban Enforcement: Another caller questions Trump's reluctance to enforce the TikTok ban, prompting Knowles to discuss potential political and economic motivations behind the administration's hesitance.

Notable Quotes:

• Caller on Daylight Savings Time [38:07]: "The libs wanted this. It is a liberal assault on the reality of time."
• Michael Knowles [39:27]: "You've made it take a very confident and very handsome man to admit when he hears a good argument from the other side."

8. Additional Discussions

Overview: Further interactions with callers address topics such as voting laws and the SAVE Act, with Knowles reinforcing his stance on election integrity and countering claims of discriminatory impacts.

Key Points:

• SAVE Act Misconceptions: A caller misunderstands the SAVE Act's implications on voting, prompting Knowles to clarify that the act aims to protect electoral integrity by ensuring voters prove eligibility.
• Disenfranchisement Claims: Knowles dismisses claims that the SAVE Act targets specific demographics, asserting that it primarily addresses illegal voting concerns without discriminating against married women or other groups.

Notable Quotes:

• Michael Knowles [45:15]: "They're trying to find anything... They like to find anything they can to hit Trump."

Conclusion

In this episode, Michael Knowles presents a critical analysis of the current political landscape, focusing on the Democratic Party's internal challenges, the rising influence of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the enduring popularity of Trump-era immigration policies among the American public. He scrutinizes institutional responses, such as Harvard University's actions and the Biden administration's policies, positioning them as factors contributing to the potential decline of Democratic dominance. Through audience interactions, Knowles addresses misconceptions and defends his viewpoints on contentious issues like Daylight Savings Time and voting legislation, reinforcing his commitment to election integrity and conservative principles.

The episode underscores a narrative of impending political shifts, warning of a generational collapse within the Democratic Party while highlighting the resilience and evolving strategies of the Republican faction led by Trump and his allies. Knowles' discussions emphasize the importance of maintaining electoral integrity, scrutinizing institutional overreach, and fostering leadership that serves the common good over private interests.

End of Summary