The Michael Knowles Show – Ep. 1798
“Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Challenges Me To A Debate”
Date: August 21, 2025
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)
Episode Overview
In this episode, Michael Knowles analyzes the ongoing decline of the Democratic Party in voter registrations and public sentiment, explores the causes and implications of this shift, and critiques progressive policy and cultural trends—from DC statehood to Cracker Barrel’s rebranding. Knowles also addresses a public debate challenge from Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, stemming from accusations about Pope Pius XII’s legacy during WWII. The segment blends political analysis, cultural commentary, and a strong dose of Knowles’ signature sarcasm.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Democratic Party’s Decline: Registration & Excuses
[04:00 – 12:50]
- Democrats Losing Registered Voters: Drawing from a recent New York Times analysis, Knowles details how Democrats have lost over 2.1 million registered voters (2020–2024) across 30 states and DC, while Republicans gained 2.4 million.
"The Dems love excuses... Oh, it was gerrymandered. Oh, it was rigged... Oh, it's because the Russians like Trump… We’re 11 years into this – Trump won twice, then he won the popular vote." – Knowles [06:30]
- Attribution of Past Advantages: Democrats have long relied on advantages like voter registration and potential support from the children of illegal immigrants—advantages which are now evaporating.
- Self-Deportation: Knowles credits Trump’s self-deportation initiative for a 1.6 million reduction in the illegal alien population, cutting into the Democrats’ projected future voter base.
The DC Statehood Gambit & Crime Statistics
[13:00 – 21:30]
- Push for Statehood: Knowles insists the push for DC statehood is a transparent effort to cement Democratic political power, giving them two additional senators and a new Congressional seat.
- Crime Data: If DC became a state, it would be “the most dangerous one”—with a violent crime rate 54% higher than the worst state, and a robbery rate nearly 1,000% above the national average.
"If DC were to become a state, it would immediately become the most dangerous state... DC's robbery rate is 955% higher than that of the average state." – Knowles [17:40]
- Trump’s Federal Takeover: Following Trump’s federalization of DC’s police, Knowles cites immediate results: robberies reportedly drop 46% and carjackings 83% within a week.
"Robberies immediately dropped 46%. Carjackings... dropped 83%. Violent crime dropped 22% immediately." – [20:10]
- Contrast with Democrats: Knowles frames Democrats as the “party of carjackings,” coining this as a symbolic representation of broader law-and-order failures.
Voting Laws, Election Security, and Democrats' Accusations
[22:00 – 32:00]
- Mail-in and Machine Voting: Criticizing mail-in ballots and electronic voting, Knowles claims these afford opportunities for Democratic “shenanigans” and cites both Trump’s and Obama’s prior skepticism regarding security:
"Well, I think we'd have to figure out whether this was fraud proof." – Barack Obama [26:08, quoting from an old interview]
- Federal Authority in Elections: Knowles discusses Trump’s suggestions for federal intervention in voting rules, referencing the constitutional basis (Art. I, Sec. 4) and the potential use of the Voting Rights Act to challenge mail-in voting on civil rights grounds.
- Gerrymandering Charges: He turns the tables on Democratic critics by highlighting extreme gerrymandering in states like California, Maryland, and Illinois.
"California... nine of [its 52] congressional districts are Republican when Republicans regularly win 40% of the vote in that state. How can this possibly be allowed?" – [29:40]
Transgender Issues & Democrat Cultural Drift
[33:00 – 35:30]
- Transgenderism as a Litmus Test: Knowles frames the Democratic party’s promotion of gender ideology as evidence they've lost “the capacity to reason,” and points to this as a factor alienating moderate and inattentive voters.
The Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Debate Challenge
[36:00 – 39:40]
- Background: Boteach publicly accused Knowles and The Daily Wire of “desecrating the 6 million” by defending Pope Pius XII, whom he labels a “Nazi collaborator.”
- Challenge Details: Boteach called for a live debate with a $10,000 bond for each, judged by an independent panel.
- Knowles accepts instantly, requesting Boteach DM him to arrange terms, but receives no reply—despite Boteach tweeting and “posting pictures of me... a little weird.”
"I would be delighted to debate Shmuli on this topic... Just message me a good email address to connect our teams together... Funny that." – Knowles [38:10]
- Sainthood Correction: Points out Boteach’s misunderstanding, clarifying Pius XII’s standing in the church’s canonization process.
Cultural Decay: The Cracker Barrel Rebrand
[39:45 – 46:00]
- Logo/Store Makeover: Decries Cracker Barrel’s attempt to modernize, stripping away iconic imagery and décor in favor of what Knowles calls a "sterile, soulless slop" aesthetic.
"They’re going to ruin my Cracker Barrel... instead of places with charm and character, we make everything Panera?" – [43:10]
- CEO Critique: Knowles sharply criticizes new CEO Julie Masino for claiming the changes are well received.
"I don't need to listen to this woman lie anymore." – [41:52]
- Defense of Tradition: Bemoans the “liberalization” of beloved Americana and calls for “federalizing Cracker Barrel.”
"We need to arrest the CEO; we need to deport her to Bukele’s mega prison in El Salvador so she can’t do this to any other beloved brand. Stop this now." – [45:30]
- Resilience Theme: Despite setbacks, Knowles exhorts listeners: “We can take Cracker Barrel back, too.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “No more excuses. The Democrats, if they wish to survive and thrive... have to offer voters something different. Something beyond promoting weird gay stuff. Something beyond promoting racial animosity. Something beyond scaring people that the Sun Monster is gonna destroy the world.” – Knowles [11:36]
- "Either they [Democrats] are totally ignorant, which is plausible, or they're being disingenuous… If Washington D.C. became a state, Democrats would immediately get another representative in Congress, two senators… and give Democrats the country." – [14:10]
- "The best argument for DC statehood that I’ve ever seen is letting Trump be the governor of the state. Would they do that? I don’t think so.” – [21:30]
- “If you think a man is a woman, you have lost your capacity to reason. Doesn't work. Might explain the Democrats' broader problem.” – [35:25]
- “Shmuli Boteach is frequently wrong, but never in doubt…” – [37:00]
- “All they had to do was keep the nice southern traditional... homestyle, scratch cooking, step back in time, nostalgia... and the new CEO said, ‘Great. But instead of that, how about your gay millennial's bougie, soulless, sterile apartment outside of New York City?’” – [43:50]
Important Timestamps
| Segment | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |:--------------------------------|:------------------| | Dems’ 2025 Registration Crisis & NYT Report | 04:00–12:50 | | Self-Deportation & Voter Base Shift | 10:00–12:50 | | DC Statehood and Crime Stats | 13:00–21:30 | | Trump’s Federalization of DC Police | 18:30–21:00 | | Vote Security & Mail-In Ballots | 22:00–32:00 | | Obama’s Mail Ballot Concerns (Clip) | 26:08 | | Debate Over Gerrymandering | 29:40 | | Transgender Litmus – Dems Lose Reason| 33:00–35:30 | | Rabbi Shmuley Boteach Debate Challenge | 36:00–39:40 | | Cracker Barrel Rebrand – CEO Clip | 41:04–41:52 | | Knowles’ Satirical Solution: Federalize Cracker Barrel | 45:15–46:00 |
Tone & Style
The episode’s tone is sharply satirical, adversarial, and highly opinionated, with Knowles employing humor, sarcasm, and polemics—especially when mocking contemporary progressivism or recounting oddities in politics, policy, and culture.
For Further Exploration
- The Pope and the Secret Vatican Files of World War II: Knowles invites listeners to watch his series, which explores Pope Pius XII’s real wartime legacy, amid controversy.
- Potential Debate with Rabbi Shmuley Boteach: No confirmation yet; Knowles encourages logistical follow-through.
- Ongoing Critique of Institutional Trends: From Cracker Barrel to DC governance, Knowles’ message is one of cultural vigilance and traditionalist pushback.
Note:
This summary skips all ad reads and non-content segments, focusing solely on substantive discussion, arguments, and notable quotes. It offers a detailed guide for listeners who want a comprehensive understanding of the episode’s themes and arguments.