Podcast Summary: The Michael Knowles Show – "Jeremy Boreing Hosts a Special Daily Wire Townhall"
Introduction
In the January 30, 2025 episode of The Michael Knowles Show, host Jeremy Boreing commemorates a monumental milestone for The Daily Wire as the company approaches its 10th anniversary. The episode centers around a significant executive order signed by the President of the United States titled "Protecting Our Children From Chemical and Surgical Mutilation," which prohibits surgical and chemical procedures on minors. Boreing lauds this order as a pivotal victory, positioning it alongside historical societal issues such as slavery and abortion.
Historical Background and Early Engagement
Boreing reflects on The Daily Wire's foundational years, emphasizing the organization's early and unwavering stance on transgender issues. He recounts an incident from 2015, merely two weeks after the company's inception, involving Ben Shapiro's appearance on CNN alongside Zoe Tur. During the debate, Tur physically threatened Shapiro for supporting traditional gender definitions. Boreing notes, “Tur, though, responded to this by grabbing Ben by the neck and saying, if you say that again, you're going home in an ambulance” (00:03:30). This encounter highlighted the intense resistance The Daily Wire would face in advocating for their beliefs.
Commitment to Conservative Values and Sacrifices
From its inception, The Daily Wire committed to resisting the progressive push for preferred pronouns and gender fluidity in reporting. Boreing asserts, “From day one, it was our policy not to give into this” (00:10:15), underscoring the company's dedication to traditional gender norms despite mounting pressures. This steadfastness led to significant backlash, including threats of violence, economic repercussions, and social ostracization. Boreing details how the company chose its principles over potential business gains, stating, “We choose our values” (00:22:45).
Key Milestones and Contributions
The Daily Wire's proactive measures yielded substantial victories:
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Matt Walsh's Activism: In 2021, Matt Walsh exposed misconduct in Loudoun County, Virginia, leading to the election of Governor Youngkin and indictments of involved school officials. Boreing highlights, “It is surprising to all of us. They left the book up in their store, and today it sold over 150,000 copies on Amazon” (00:15:50), referring to Walsh's children's book, Johnny the Walrus.
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Documentary Success: The 2022 release of Matt Walsh's documentary, What is a Woman?, became a national sensation, attracting tens of millions of viewers and influencing legislative changes in 36 states to ban gender-affirming procedures for minors. Boreing emphasizes its impact: “The left, it turns out, did not know the answer, and they were pissed” (00:18:30).
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Media and Product Innovations: The launch of ventures like Jeremy's Razors and Jeremy's Chocolate served as direct responses to advertiser pullbacks, reinforcing The Daily Wire's commitment to their mission despite financial risks. Boreing remarks, “Today Jeremy's Razors is a growing and thriving business” (00:17:20).
Business Decisions and Strategic Responses
Faced with advertiser and platform hostility, The Daily Wire made strategic business decisions to maintain operational independence:
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Launching Alternative Brands: In response to canceled advertising campaigns, the company introduced Jeremy's Razors and Jeremy's Chocolate, both of which saw substantial revenue growth despite initial uncertainties.
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Platform Battles: The Daily Wire engaged in public disputes with major tech companies like Amazon, Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok over content moderation policies. Boreing recounts, “Mark Zuckerberg has publicly acknowledged now that they were taking actions to suppress effective political and social content” (00:21:10).
Challenges and Opposition
The company's unwavering stance resulted in significant financial and operational challenges. Boreing outlines:
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Revenue Losses: Demonetizations and bans from platforms like YouTube and Facebook cost The Daily Wire hundreds of millions of dollars. “Just because the moves worked does not mean there wasn't enormous risk” (00:19:05).
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Service Provider Withdrawals: Key service providers severed ties due to The Daily Wire's positions, impacting various aspects of their operations.
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Public and Political Pushback: High-profile figures and organizations, including the Biden White House, actively denounced The Daily Wire's leaders for their positions on transgender issues.
Resilience and Growth
Despite these adversities, The Daily Wire experienced significant growth. Boreing highlights:
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Financial Growth: Achieving over $200 million in annual revenue, doubling the company's size and influence over a decade.
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Audience Engagement: Building a dedicated and expansive audience base that supported their mission through subscriptions, content sharing, and sustained engagement.
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Content Production: Expanding into successful shows, movies, and documentaries that furthered their conservative agenda and cultural influence.
Acknowledgements and Future Outlook
Boreing expresses profound gratitude to the team, audience, supporters, and political allies who have stood by The Daily Wire throughout its journey. He acknowledges the collective effort in achieving their victories and emphasizes the importance of continuing to fight for their values. Looking forward, Boreing anticipates celebrating the 10th anniversary with plans to honor their accomplishments and strategize for future challenges.
Notable Quotes
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“Zoe Tur responded to this by grabbing Ben by the neck and saying, if you say that again, you're going home in an ambulance.” (00:03:30)
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“From day one, it was our policy not to give into this.” (00:10:15)
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“We choose our values.” (00:22:45)
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“Today Jeremy's Razors is a growing and thriving business.” (00:17:20)
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“Mark Zuckerberg has publicly acknowledged now that they were taking actions to suppress effective political and social content.” (00:21:10)
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“Just because the moves worked does not mean there wasn't enormous risk.” (00:19:05)
Conclusion
Jeremy Boreing's townhall on The Michael Knowles Show offers a comprehensive overview of The Daily Wire's decade-long commitment to conservative values, particularly in combating transgender-related policies. Through strategic battles, significant sacrifices, and unwavering dedication, the company has emerged as a formidable force in American media. The episode serves not only as a celebration of past achievements but also as a reaffirmation of The Daily Wire's mission to continue advocating for their principles amidst ongoing cultural and political challenges.
