Podcast Summary: The Michael Knowles Show
Episode: "What Do You Think About Israel?" What To Say: At Thanksgiving
Date: November 22, 2025
Host: Michael Knowles (The Daily Wire)

Episode Overview

This episode of The Michael Knowles Show offers listeners a satirical and combative guide on handling heated political and cultural debates at the Thanksgiving dinner table. Michael Knowles caricatures several types of relatives—curious children, left-wing “lesbian cousin Stephanie,” and conspiracy-minded “Uncle Bob”—to model how a conservative might respond to predictable progressive talking points on hot-button topics: Israel and Palestine, gender identity, Thanksgiving’s origins, abortion, immigration, and more. The tone is irreverent, biting, and intentionally provocative, blending tongue-in-cheek humor with moments of pointed commentary.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Handling Thanksgiving Political Debates (02:20–03:38)

• Knowles sets up the premise: At Thanksgiving, certain political topics inevitably arise, typically instigated by different family archetypes.
  • The Innocent Kid: Asks basic but earnest questions.
  • The Radical Leftist Relative: Speaks in fiery, ideologically-charged terms.
  • The Conspiracy Uncle: Offers unfiltered or outlandish views.

“I'm a big supporter of keeping the peace with the family and having a nice dinner… But how do you handle the political topics when they come up?” — Michael Knowles (02:43)

Topic 1: Israel and Palestine (03:38–07:46)

1. Kid’s Question on Israel/Palestine

• Knowles responds with a condensed, polemical history lesson, positioning “Jews” as generally more allied with Western interests than “Muslims,” invokes “civilization,” and ultimately dismisses the complexity.
• Quote:

  "It's really complicated, so eat your turkey." — Michael Knowles (04:26)

2. Lesbian Cousin Asserts ‘Genocide’

• Stephanie insists Israel is committing genocide; Knowles counters:
  • Genocide is “when you wipe out a whole group” and says Israel hasn’t done that.
  • Both parties (Israelis and Palestinians) have engaged in wrongdoings.
  • Cites St. Thomas Aquinas and the principle of “just war.”
  • Credits Trump for helping end war in a way that preserves “integrity of the Palestinian people.”
• Quote:

  “Genocide is when you wipe out a whole group of people. And the Israelis haven’t done that… if the Israelis actually wanted to commit a genocide, they probably just would have already.” — Michael Knowles (05:25) “So cheers to Trump. Right?” — Michael Knowles (07:08)

3. Uncle Bob’s Nihilism

• Uncle Bob dismisses the Middle East as a distraction and tangents into conspiracy about “seed oils.”
• Knowles plays along, mocking all parties.
• Quote:

  "Yeah, man, I hate those seed oils in the chemtrails. Don't tell our lesbian cousin. Maybe the seed oils are how she ended up that way." — Michael Knowles (07:25)

Topic 2: Gender and Identity Politics (07:46–09:46)

1. Kid’s Question on Nonbinary Friends

• Knowles says it’s unkind to lie about sex and gender, insists you cannot be the opposite sex or neither.
• Quote:

  "We all want to be nice to our friends, but then we have to ask... is it nice to lie to people, Jimmy? No, it's not nice." — Michael Knowles (08:00)

2. Stephanie’s “Trans Women” Push

• Stephanie: “If you don’t want to be with a trans woman, that’s a you problem.”
• Knowles: “I think that’s a me solution,” personalizes with jabs about daddy issues.
• Quote:

  "You are working through issues that are completely divorced from the radical political solutions. Is this too real for you, Stephanie?" — Michael Knowles (09:10)

3. Uncle Bob’s Transphobic Joke

• Uncle Bob: Would you rather be with a “ladyboy” or an “American land whale”?
• Knowles: Dismisses question, advocates for marriage to a “real woman.”
• Quote:

  "Probably in the long run, it's better to be with the real woman and get married." — Michael Knowles (09:52)

Topic 3: The Meaning of Thanksgiving (11:28–14:50)

1. Kid’s Question on Pilgrims and Native Americans

• Knowles says Thanksgiving is about gratitude for one’s own country and heritage.
• Downplays claims of genocide, says pilgrims formed alliances, and history is complex.
• Quote:

  "We celebrate it, Johnny, because it's our country and it's our people... We love our country because it is our country." — Michael Knowles (11:42)

2. Stephanie’s Colonizer/Genocide Objection

• Knowles demands historical specifics, accuses her of ignorance and spoiling family time.
• Quote:

  "You haven't learned a damn thing in your entire life, Stephanie. So zip your mouth and eat your stuffing." — Michael Knowles (13:18)

3. Uncle Bob’s Conspiracy Theory

• Phoenicians were here before Native Americans.
• Knowles treats this with mock seriousness for comic relief.
• Quote:

  "This narrative that you're spinning for me is a welcome break. A delightful little digression from Stephanie's incessant yapping." — Michael Knowles (14:28)

Topic 4: Abortion (14:50–18:51)

1. Kid’s Question on Bodily Autonomy

• Knowles analogizes about bad choices/laws and murder; says abortion is a “really, really bad choice.”
• Asserts that abortion eliminates people who might have enjoyed a Thanksgiving.
• Quote:

  "Some choices are so bad that we actually prescribe it by the law... If abortion were taken to its logical conclusion, you wouldn’t even exist." — Michael Knowles (15:01)

2. Stephanie: Abortion bans = Misogyny

• Knowles recounts case of a woman murdered for refusing abortion, highlights coercion and trauma.
• Says real defense of women means opposing abortion.
• Quote:

  "The primary reason, Stephanie, to stop abortion is because abortion kills innocent life... a secondary reason is that abortion is very bad for women." — Michael Knowles (16:54)

3. Uncle Bob Claims Conspiracy

• Abortion as minority “scam,” now about “adrenochrome.”
• Knowles references “chemicals in the water that turned the frogs gay” as an ironic nod to conspiracy theory culture.
• Quote:

  "…they were literally putting chemicals in the water that turned the frogs gay. So, like, yeah, maybe it's at least demonic." — Michael Knowles (18:29)

Topic 5: Immigration (18:51–22:44)

1. Kid’s Question on Immigrants Seeking Safety

• Knowles draws distinction between refugees and economic migrants.
• Claims most illegal immigrants come for jobs, not safety; describes cartel involvement and dangers.
• Says borders are essential; compassion mustn’t mean self-destruction.
• Quote:

  "Nations are defined by their borders... we want to help everybody, but we can't do so in a suicidal way that would destroy our own country." — Michael Knowles (19:46)

2. Stephanie: ICE is a Terrorist Organization

• Knowles responds with a joke about deporting Stephanie, mocking her family heritage.
• Quote:

  "You're gonna need to come here before dessert. I got one for you... I want this one to be sent to Tanzania. Happy Thanksgiving." — Michael Knowles (20:23)

3. Uncle Bob’s Extremism

• Advocates for removing “tiny hats and basketball people” (antisemitic and racist euphemisms).
• Knowles partially rebuffs, distinguishes between long-assimilated minorities (Jews, Blacks) and recent immigrants.
• Quote:

  "Whereas when it comes to the cartel assisted unassimilated peasants from Latin America... it would be more urgent to get them out, I think." — Michael Knowles (22:13)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• “If you value the rights of the Palestinians, the legitimate rights of Palestinians, as I do, Stephanie, that's a point of agreement...” — Michael Knowles (06:30)
• “Some choices are so bad you gotta tell them not to do them. And that's just what politics is.” — Michael Knowles (16:10)
• “I'm really glad that I stopped drinking a little while ago, Stephanie, because I feel like this is a much more productive conversation.” — Michael Knowles (17:50)
• “Happy Hanukkah. All right, that's... that's all of our... Oh, oh. There's one more comment from Stephanie.” — Michael Knowles (22:48)

Memorable Comic Exchanges

• Transgender Issues:
  Stephanie: “If you don't want to be with a trans woman, that's a you problem, Michael.”
  Knowles: “I think that's a me solution, Stephanie. I think that's a me solution. And I think that's a solution for everyone.” (08:56)

• Holiday Finale:
  Stephanie: “If you tell Grandma I've been sneaking off to the garage to hit my vape, I'll put zin powder in your mashed potatoes.”
  Knowles: “Don't threaten me with a good time... Did Christmas come early?” (23:01)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:20] — Thanksgiving conversations: characters and setup
• [03:38] — Israel/Palestine debate with kid, cousin, and uncle
• [07:46] — Gender identity and family drama
• [11:28] — The meaning and origins of Thanksgiving
• [14:50] — Abortion debates
• [18:51] — Immigration questions
• [22:44] — Uncle Bob’s conspiracy corner and closing barbs
• [23:01] — Thanksgiving wrap-up with comic threat

Final Thoughts

In typical Michael Knowles fashion, the episode is a parody-laced user’s manual for defending conservative views in the face of progressive family members over the holidays. The humor is sharp, the boundaries deliberately pushed, and the underlying message is to be both unflappable and unapologetically direct—even flippant—in expressing right-wing views, regardless of the setting.

Note: Due to the satirical and intentionally provocative nature of the episode, listeners should be aware that much of the commentary is hyperbolic and meant to entertain as well as to instruct.