Podcast Summary: The Michael Knowles Show

Episode: Ep. 1871 – The Left & Right Rally Behind Jasmine Crockett’s Low IQ Campaign
Date: December 9, 2025
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)

Main Theme & Purpose

In this episode, Michael Knowles examines the surprising unifying power of Jasmine Crockett’s Senate campaign launch, where both the left and right have rallied around her—albeit for different reasons. Knowles uses this to discuss the state of modern political messaging, divisions within the Republican Party, the strategic use of provocative PR by politicians, and the erosion of trust in political institutions. He also reflects on broader topics like media manipulation, the dangers faced by political commentators, and new revelations in transgender health policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Jasmine Crockett’s Senate Campaign Ad

• [00:30–01:52] Knowles dissects Jasmine Crockett’s viral Senate campaign video, which boldly highlights Donald Trump calling her “low IQ”—a jab she leans into, making it the centerpiece of her campaign messaging.
• Ad Analysis:
  • Crockett is depicted standing stoically as voice clips (primarily Trump’s insults) are layered over her, culminating in her turning and smiling ambiguously.
  • Knowles is impressed by the ad’s audacious, self-aware tone:

    “It is political messaging so bold. She might win.” — Michael Knowles [01:52]

  • He notes that in today’s politics, it’s often smarter to lean into attacks rather than shy away:

    “She gets what politics in America is about right now. And that’s one word, five letters. Trump.” — Knowles [04:44]

  • By absorbing and deflecting mockery, Crockett harnesses political attention much like Trump once did.
  • He contrasts Crockett’s style with previous failed Democratic Senate candidates in Texas, praising her for moving away from “white bread and milk toast”—previous Democratic strategies he deems ineffective [07:18–08:01].
  • Memorable Quote:

    “Try me. I code switch. I’m provocative, I’m vulgar. I appeal to the lowest common denominator. Try me.” — Knowles, paraphrasing Crockett’s implied approach [07:57]

2. Trump Administration’s Deportation Messaging & Critique

• [08:02–13:00] Knowles moves to the Trump administration’s provocative holiday-themed messaging, specifically a DHS campaign telling illegal immigrants to “Ho, ho, ho, go home.”
• Analysis:
  • Left and right both criticize the messaging—liberals for its perceived cruelty, some hardliners on the right for being “not cruel enough.”
  • Knowles defends the PR strategy as smart and effective, creating an environment where self-deportation numbers soar:

    “The official government number for self deports is over three times the formal deportation number. It’s 1.6 million self deports just this year.” — Knowles [11:04]

  • He argues the real-world impact outweighs concerns over tone, citing how fear of enforcement leads to voluntary compliance and efficiently manages resources.
  • Quote:

    “It’s a lot better for these people to just go home of their own accord...” — Knowles [12:16]

  • He pushes back on sentimentality around immigration, challenging the repeated narrative that “America is a nation of immigrants” as a historical myth [16:45].

3. Republican Senator John Curtis & Immigration

• [14:25–16:45]
  • Knowles critiques Republican Senator John Curtis’ suggestion that Americans “wake up every morning” thinking how to make immigrants feel more welcome:

    “[Curtis:] ...‘what am I doing specifically today ... to make all of our immigrants feel more welcome.’” — Curtis [14:53]
    “Somewhere around the 10 billionth thing I think about is, how can we make all of the illegal aliens feel better today?” — Knowles [16:34]

  • Knowles uses this to highlight how establishment rhetoric on immigration helped give rise to Trump’s popularity as a “corrective.”

4. Piers Morgan vs. Nick Fuentes: Popularity or Propaganda?

• [20:25–25:18]
  • Knowles discusses a high-profile interview between livestream provocateur Nick Fuentes and Piers Morgan, which drew massive (and possibly artificial) online engagement.
  • A New York Post report suggests Fuentes’ popularity may be bolstered by bot farms in India, Pakistan, and Nigeria [21:11].
  • Knowles takes a nuanced third position:
    • Foreign actors do try to exploit and exacerbate real political rifts; bots might amplify existing divides, but they can't manufacture them from nothing.

    “The way that a foreign interference campaign works is not by just inventing a problem... It’s by exploiting fissures that already exist.” — Knowles [23:01]

  • He warns that these fissures on the right—over foreign policy, economics, migration—are real and urgent, especially as the movement prepares for a post-Trump era [25:53].

5. The Dangers Facing Political Commentators

• [29:37–34:07]
  • Knowles reports on the shooting at Tim Pool’s home and reflects on why moderate or bridge-building political voices like Charlie Kirk (who was assassinated) and Tim Pool are targeted.

    “The fact that, look, Charlie was a conservative through and through... Tim is not that way. And I think that’s a little jarring for a lot of us.” — Knowles [33:01]

  • He attributes the violence and threats to a growing perception that the entire political system is untrustworthy, which in turn pushes more people toward conspiratorial or extreme views.

6. Transgender Medicine—WPATH Exposed

• [37:04–42:21]
  • Knowles reveals a leaked discussion among WPATH (World Professional Association for Transgender Health) professionals, admitting they are “winging it” with experimental gender surgeries on minors—without reliable long-term outcome data.
    • Notable Quotes:

      “We are doing procedures here where we don’t have outcome data.” — WPATH Doctor [38:58]
      “I feel like we’re all just winging it, you know, which is okay... maybe we can just like wing it together...” — WPATH Member [39:30]

  • Knowles uses this as vindication for those who criticized the rapid adoption of aggressive gender treatments, claiming conservatives were right all along about the lack of science and oversight.

    “You were right because you knew that it was fake ... And you were called an idiot the whole time. And you were right about everything.” — Knowles [42:21]

7. Briefs, Commentary, and Closing

• [43:54–44:43] Notes the government withdrawal of Hepatitis B vaccination requirements for newborns and teases further topics for the next episode (Supreme Court expansion, Islamic Society of Philly, etc.).
• [45:11–46:00+] Closes with poetic musings and humor, including satirical historical riffs on Somali contributions and a parody of insurance ads.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jasmine Crockett’s Campaign:

  “I’m a star and an idiot. It is political messaging so bold. She might win.” — Knowles [01:52] “She gets what politics in America is about right now. And that’s one word, five letters. Trump.” — Knowles [04:44]

• Immigration & Deportation:

  “It’s a lot better for these people to just go home of their own accord than it is for [ICE] to kick in their door...” — Knowles [12:16]

• The Futility of ‘Be Nice’ Immigration Policy:

  “Somewhere around the 10 billionth thing I think about is, how can we make all of the illegal aliens feel better today?” — Knowles [16:34]

• Foreign Interference Discourse:

  “The way that a foreign interference campaign works is not by just inventing a problem... It’s by exploiting fissures that already exist.” — Knowles [23:01]

• On WPATH and Transgender Surgeries:

  “We are doing procedures here where we don’t have outcome data.” — WPATH Panelist [38:58]
  “I feel like we’re all just winging it, you know, which is okay… but maybe we can just like wing it together.” — WPATH Member [39:30]

• Vindication Tone:

  “You were right. You were right about transgenderism. You were right about the whole thing.” — Knowles [42:21]

• On Political Threats:

  “The reason that just about anyone in politics—and especially the effective people—are being targeted is because the whole political order is now seen as untrustworthy.” — Knowles [34:07]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Jasmine Crockett Campaign Ad / Analysis: [00:30–04:36]
• Political Messaging & Trump: [04:36–07:18]
• Democratic Campaign Strategies in Texas: [07:18–08:01]
• DHS “Ho, Ho, Ho, Go Home” Campaign / Immigration PR: [08:52–13:00]
• Sen. John Curtis Immigration Comments: [14:25–16:45]
• Fuentes-Piers Morgan Interview & Foreign Bots: [20:25–25:18]
• Discussion of Political Division & Threats: [29:37–34:07]
• WPATH Leaks on Trans Surgeries: [37:04–42:21]
• Vindication on Trans Issues: [42:21–43:54]

Tone & Style

Michael Knowles’ tone is sarcastic, fast-paced, and sometimes satirical, blending earnest analysis with dark humor. He is unapologetically polemical, often mocking both left and moderate Republican positions, and celebrates what he sees as recent conservative vindication on cultural issues.

Summary Takeaway

This episode dives deep into how provocative and self-deprecating political messaging is succeeding, particularly for outsider candidates like Jasmine Crockett, and how divisions—both within the conservative movement and in the country at large—are being amplified by both internal and external actors. Knowles weaves together cultural, political, and media topics to argue that, often, the right is being vindicated on issues after initially being denounced as “extreme” or “idiotic.” The episode closes with a mixture of new revelations, lingering questions, and Knowles’ trademark blend of seriousness and irreverence.