The Michael Knowles Show

Episode: Michael Knowles Reads His Reddit Hater Threads
Date: November 29, 2025
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Michael Knowles reads and responds to negative threads and comments about himself on Reddit. Blending humor, sarcasm, and conservative commentary, he reacts in real time to the most biting, bizarre, and occasionally thoughtful Reddit criticisms. The episode becomes a satirical look at online hate, the culture of anonymous comments, and Knowles’ public persona as he discusses political and cultural divides, personal attacks, and mischaracterizations he faces online.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Michael’s Relationship with Reddit and Online Hate

• [00:44] Knowles acknowledges he’s not an active Reddit user (“I’m not a Reddit poster because I don’t have the fedora and I’m not a cringe atheist”), but is amused to find himself as discussion fodder.
• His producers present him with negative comments, which he reads aloud and dissects on-air.
• Knowles positions the episode less as self-defense and more as a playful “reading of the hate mail.”

2. Responding to Wild Accusations and Insults

• “Level three domestic terrorist”

  • [00:50] A Redditor accuses Knowles of being a “level three domestic terrorist.”
  • He humorously questions how the “levels” work, joking about the seriousness and absurdity of the accusation:
    • “Is level three the highest? I would be honored by such a classification.”
  • Points out there’s no substance in the accusation—just hyperbole.

• “Edgy middle schooler”

  • [01:20] Another claims he “looks like an edgy middle schooler.”
  • Knowles takes it as a compliment for youthful looks:
    • “They’re telling me I aged gracefully… am I just a youthful sex symbol or a mature, wizened example of elder statesmanship?”
  • Reveals his age (35) and jokes about perceptions of maturity.

• Suicide Suggestion (“self-immolation”)

  • [02:00] A user named peppercorn666 says, “Michael, you ever consider self immolation as a show of your support?”
  • He responds with dark humor, clarifying he won’t do it because it’s a “grave mortal sin.”
    • “Nice try. Not gonna work, buster.”
  • Downplays the supposed severity of the hate.

3. Debating Political and Cultural Ignorance

• Corpus Christi vs. Juneteenth
  • [03:00] When accused of being “a religious fascist who hates black people” for criticizing Juneteenth as a federal holiday, Michael provides a lengthy clarification:
    • Defines fascism, contrasting its focus on the idolization of the state with his own religious worldview:
      • “Those of us who want a more religious kind of political order… would be exalting God, exalting religion. Those are just different things.”
    • Denies racism, argues most people hadn’t heard of Juneteenth until recently, and criticizes its institutionalization over older religious celebrations:
      • “Juneteenth is fake. There are like five black people who had ever heard of Juneteenth before five years ago. It’s not a real thing.”
      • Jokes Juneteenth should be called “Mailman Day.”

4. Comparisons to Colleagues and Personality Attacks

• [06:10] A commenter suggests Knowles is a childhood sociopath, comparing him to Daily Wire colleagues:
  • “Matt Walsh is a dumb ass… Shapiro has stupid religious beliefs and his audience captured to hell. But Knowles, I swear to our Lord, killed squirrels in his backyard as a kid.”
• Michael observes the irony—he’s usually criticized for being “too nice,” but here, he’s framed as the sociopath, while Matt and Ben are “the nice ones.”
  • “Maybe that’s the truth. You ever think about that? Try getting a reservation at Dorsey now.”

5. Nazi and Fascist Accusations

• [07:40] A deleted user accuses Michael of having “no authority on who is and isn’t a white supremacist,” claiming he used “arbeit macht frei” talking points.
• Michael rejects the Nazi/fascist label, discusses his understanding of freedom as tied to meaningful action (“freedom involves doing things”), and debunks the racial essentialist claim with reference to his own mixed heritage.
  • “I’m not a Nazi. I didn’t… I wasn’t rejected from art school.”
  • “A racial essentialist? What does that even mean?”
• He notes the irony: “The libs are all about, like, we gotta protect the race. They have a group called La Raza.”

6. Reaction to LGBTQ and Gendered Slurs

• [09:45] User Kestrelquill pens a dismissive comment: “I’d much rather be gay than be Michael Knowles. Oh wait. I am gay. Wait, never mind. Okay. I’d rather take part in a gay T4T sex pile… than be Michael.”
• Michael jokes about being called gay and dismisses the insult:
  • “It’s funny because often my beloved fans… will call me gay… his sweater and jackets are a little too nice.”

7. Overall Takeaway and Tone

• [14:55] Knowles reflects on the relative “niceness” of Reddit hate compared to other platforms, saying he’s been called everything from a “psycho killer” to “too straight,” but finds the Reddit vitriol almost endearing.
  • “They think they’re being mean, but they’re actually being nice. Forget about YouTube and Facebook and Twitter and TV. I’m gonna be a Reddit man now. My lady, get me a fedora.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On “levels” of domestic terrorism:
  “Is level three the highest? I would be honored by such a classification.” [00:50]

• On appearance:
  “Am I just a youthful sex symbol or a mature, wizened example of elder statesmanship?” [01:31]

• On “self-immolation” comment:
  “He’s telling me to kill myself. I’m not gonna do it because that's a grave mortal sin, so I’m not gonna do it.” [02:20]

• On Juneteenth:
  “Juneteenth is fake. There are like five black people who had ever heard of Juneteenth before five years ago… It’s mailman day.” [03:58]

• On being called a sociopath:
  “This one, they’re saying I’m a sociopath. And they’re saying Ben and Matt are the nice ones, which I guess I should be honored about because maybe that’s the truth.” [06:59]

• On Nazi/fascist accusations:
  “I want to be fair to this person. I don’t think I said ‘arbeit macht frei.’... But my view of freedom is that freedom involves doing things, and freedom is for something, and it’s not just, you know, like, loafing around.” [07:52]

• On being called gay as an insult:
  “It’s funny because often my beloved fans like this… will call me gay… his sweater and jackets are a little too nice.” [12:27]

• On Reddit haters vs other platforms:
  “I go on Reddit. It’s all kind of nice, but they think they’re being mean, but they’re actually being nice. Forget about YouTube and Facebook and Twitter and TV. I’m gonna be a Reddit man now. My lady, get me a fedora.” [14:55]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:44] - Introduction to the Reddit hate mail segment
• [00:50] - Level three domestic terrorist accusation
• [01:20] - “Edgy middle schooler” comment and age/maturity discussion
• [02:00] - Suicide suggestion and Knowles’ response
• [03:00] - Juneteenth vs. Corpus Christi, racism & fascism clarifications
• [06:10] - Criticism by comparison with Matt Walsh and Ben Shapiro
• [07:40] - Nazi/fascist/white supremacist/racial essentialist allegations
• [09:45] - LGBTQ insults and Knowles’ reaction
• [14:55] - Wrap-up: “Reddit man now” and closing reflections on online hate

Episode Tone & Style

• The episode is sarcastic, humorous, and self-aware.
• Knowles blends playful mockery with serious rebuttals to internet accusations.
• He maintains a conversational, occasionally irreverent style, treating attacks as opportunities to clarify, joke, or downplay rather than defend with anger.

Summary

This episode presents Michael Knowles at his most unfiltered, using Reddit hate threads as both material for comedy and serious discussion about political mischaracterization and online culture. He weaves clarifications on political philosophy and personal beliefs with wit, embracing (rather than recoiling from) the most intense hate mail. Those curious about Knowles’ philosophy, persona, or reaction to criticism will find this episode both entertaining and revealing.