Podcast Summary: The Michael Knowles Show – Ep. 1910

Date: February 11, 2026
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)
Episode Title: BREAKING: 9 Dead in Alleged Trans School Shooting in Canada

Episode Overview

This episode dives into a tragic school shooting in Canada and the media response, with Michael Knowles critiquing mainstream media narratives and political handling of key issues. Knowles covers the top story about the British Columbia shooting, media reluctance to discuss potential motives, and a broader conversation about mental illness, trans ideology, and societal violence. Later, he highlights recent moments where major liberal media outlets (CNN, The New York Times, ABC News) have begrudgingly admitted facts contradicting longstanding left-wing talking points on voter ID, marijuana legalization, and Donald Trump’s connection to Jeffrey Epstein. The show finishes with a critique of congressional grandstanding on religious themes, especially surrounding ICE and immigration policy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The TumblR Ridge School Shooting in Canada

• Details of the Event ([02:52]):
  • Nine people killed (including the shooter) at TumblR Ridge School in British Columbia; 25 injured.
  • Authorities claim the motive is "unclear."
• Media & Authorities’ Response ([03:50]):
  • Knowles notes that when the identity of the shooter is not in headlines, it often indicates the suspect does not fit the "straight white male" profile.
  • Quotes from Canadian media: "Officers believe they have identified the shooter, but said they will struggle to ever determine a motive..." (paraphrased, [04:48])
• Suspect Identity & Motive ([05:15]):
  • Reports suggest the shooter was a "male in a dress with brown hair," possibly identifying as transgender. Social media indicates trans flags/pronouns.
  • "It’s always the ones you most expect." ([06:06]) – Knowles references a pattern of recent attacks by transgender individuals.
• Societal Response to Trans Mental Health:
  • Asserts that, until recently, people with severe gender dysphoria "would have been institutionalized or placed under serious protective care because they are manifestly insane." ([07:34])
  • "Are you saying all trans identifying people are crazy and should be viewed as potential threats? Yeah. That's what I'm saying." ([08:31])
  • Links the Nashville Covenant School shooting and other attacks to this ideological trend.
• Media Narrative:
  • Criticizes authorities for quickly claiming they will "never" know the motive, suggesting willful ignorance: "What that actually signifies is that they already know the motive or they have a pretty good hunch of it." ([05:15])

2. Media Forced to Admit Uncomfortable Truths

A. CNN on Voter ID Popularity ([16:37–17:14])

• CNN report breaks down polling on voter ID by race:
  • 85% of White Americans
  • 82% of Latinos
  • 76% of Black Americans
  • 71% of Democrats overall favor voter ID
• Knowles: "0% of Democrats who are in elected office support voter ID. The vast majority of Democrat voters, 71%, favor voter ID. 95% of Republicans." ([17:14])
• Critiques Democratic officials for opposing widely popular policies: "The only explanation... is that they want to steal elections." ([18:30])

B. The New York Times Admitting Marijuana Concerns ([28:22+])

• NYT editorial board publishes: "It is time for America to admit that it has a marijuana problem."
• Knowles notes their previous advocacy for legalization, which is now partially walked back: "Much of what we wrote holds up, but not all of it does." ([29:22])
• Highlights statistics:
  • Marijuana use rates have multiplied several times over since legalization.
  • "Legalization has led to much more use... wider use has caused a rise in addiction and other problems..." ([30:54])
• "The New York Times says, look, we were wrong. Everything we said was wrong. ... But what’s very important now is that we learn nothing from this." ([31:53])

C. ABC News on Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein ([22:09+])

• New ABC/FBI documents reveal Trump was one of the first to tip off police about Epstein: "Trump called Reiter around that time and said, 'Thank goodness you’re stopping him. Everyone has known he’s been doing this.'" ([22:09])
• "All the evidence is contrary to that [liberal spin]. The evidence comes out and says, oh, he actually blew the whistle on Epstein." ([23:09])
• Still, ABC tries to spin the story negatively: "He actually did the right thing and actually blew the whistle on Epstein. But then later he didn’t talk about how he blew the whistle on Epstein. That liar. ... How do you turn that into a negative story about Trump?" ([23:09])

3. Congressional Grandstanding: The ICE Hearing ([35:59+])

Rep. LaMonica McIver’s Exchange with ICE Acting Director Lyons

• McIver asks Lyons if, as a religious man, he worries about going to hell for his work ([36:06]):
  • "How do you think Judgment Day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?" ([36:14])
  • Lyons: "I'm not going to entertain that question." ([36:14])
• Chairman intervenes: "Members are reminded that we must adhere to established standards of decorum and debate ... aggressively attacking witnesses personally is inappropriate..." ([36:32])
• Knowles’ analysis:
  • Mocks the grandstanding and the “flippant” invocation of hell and religion: "...Rather than say, well, that's out of bounds. You shouldn't bring religion up in a political hearing. Maybe this is a great opportunity for evangelization."
  • "I would have given her, in other words, a straight answer because I don't think she's axing or asking or any other pronunciation of that word this question seriously." ([37:01])

Rep. Eric Swalwell’s ICE Exchange ([42:45])

• Swalwell presses Lyons to resign over child detention:
  • Lyons responds: "That child that you're showing—right there, the men and women of ICE took care of him when his father abandoned him and ran." ([42:49])
  • Knowles notes: ICE had to take care of a child left by his criminal illegal alien father.
• "If Eric Swalwell didn’t exist, we'd have to invent him." ([42:58])
• “Is that really now their argument, we should not arrest illegal aliens? I guess it is.” ([43:05])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the shooting’s motive:
  "If you have two brain cells to rub together... and you're not an ardent leftist... we all know the conclusion." — Michael Knowles ([05:13])

• On trans shooters and institutionalization:
  "All of those shootings could have been prevented and would have been prevented until very recently, because the people who perpetrated the shootings would have been institutionalized or placed under very serious protective care because they are manifestly insane." — Michael Knowles ([07:34])

• On Congressional religion-baiting:
  "How do you think Judgment Day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?" — Rep. LaMonica McIver ([36:14])

• On Democrats and Voter ID:
  "71% of Democrats favor voter ID. 0% of Democrats who are in elected office support voter ID." — Michael Knowles ([17:14])

• On Trump & Epstein:
  "All the evidence is contrary to that... he actually blew the whistle on Epstein." — Michael Knowles ([23:09])

Important Timestamps by Segment

| Timestamp | Segment | Details | |-----------|--------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------| | 02:52 | Canadian school shooting report | Facts, media, and authorities’ obfuscation | | 05:13 | Motive speculation, media analysis | Transgender identity, media narrative hiding | | 07:34 | Societal handling of mental illness | Critique of deinstitutionalization and rising violence | | 16:37 | CNN on voter ID polling | Audio from CNN, cross-racial breakdown, knowles’ commentary | | 22:09 | ABC News: Trump & Epstein | ABC report and Knowles’ reaction | | 28:22 | NYT on legalization of marijuana | Editorial summary and Knowles’ analysis | | 35:59 | ICE Hearing: Rep. McIver and Acting Dir. Lyons | Religious grandstanding, decorum debate | | 42:45 | ICE Hearing: Rep. Swalwell and Acting Dir. Lyons | Child detention argument, Knowles’ rebuttal |

Tone & Style

Michael Knowles maintains a sarcastic, confrontational, and unapologetically partisan tone. He blends news reporting with ideological commentary, not shying from provocative assertions or humor, especially at the left’s expense.

Conclusion

This episode exemplifies Michael Knowles’ approach—blending current events, media critique, and culture-war commentary. The main narrative threads are skepticism of media/government narratives regarding mass violence, critique of liberal/left stances on voting, drugs, and law enforcement, and mocking Congressional theater.
The episode includes pointed challenges to Democratic politicians, the mainstream press, and prevailing liberal cultural assumptions.

Listeners get:

• A breakdown of a breaking news story and associated debates.
• A review of recent, surprising admissions by liberal legacy media.
• A sharp, ideologically-charged critique of political double standards and cultural trends.
• Memorable quotes and tense congressional exchanges with timestamped context for quick reference.