Podcast Title: The Victor Davis Hanson Show
Host/Author: Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler
Episode: Life Under Carter and the Immigrant Mind
Release Date: January 7, 2025
1. Introduction
In this episode of The Victor Davis Hanson Show, hosted by Victor Davis Hanson and Jack Fowler, the duo delves into a range of pressing political and social issues. The episode, recorded on January 4th, touches upon significant events such as the re-election of Speaker Johnson, the legacy of former President Jimmy Carter, immigration challenges, recent terrorist attacks, and the pervasive influence of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in various sectors.
2. Speaker Johnson's Re-Election and Republican Dynamics
Timestamp: [06:18] - [11:48]
Jack Fowler kicks off the discussion by highlighting the narrow re-election of Speaker Johnson, emphasizing the internal strife within the Republican Party. Despite historical challenges in electing a Speaker, Johnson managed to secure his position, albeit by a slim margin.
Victor critiques the fractious nature of the Republican caucus:
"When you look at the vote, the first vote was 216 to 215. My point being that every single Democrat stood together and they had a lot of disparate opinions."
— Victor Davis Hanson [07:37]
He laments the lack of unity among Republicans, pointing out that dissident members like Ralph Norman and Keith Self threaten the party's cohesion:
"They don't understand power and whatever problems they have, they feel that they are dwarfed by their opposition to Republicans."
— Victor Davis Hanson [07:37]
Victor further criticizes the Republican members who resist unity, suggesting that such behavior jeopardizes the party's majority status:
"And you hand over the House to the Democrats. Doesn't make any sense to me."
— Victor Davis Hanson [07:37]
3. Jimmy Carter's Legacy and Foreign Policy Critique
Timestamp: [12:51] - [43:17]
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to analyzing Jimmy Carter's presidency and its long-term implications. Victor offers a scathing critique of Carter's foreign policy decisions, particularly his handling of Iran and relationships in the Middle East.
He contends that Carter's inadvertent actions paved the way for increased terrorism and instability:
"What caused the modern problem in the Middle East was not Israel... it was the appeasement of Iran and its use of oil to subsidize these new terrorist groups."
— Victor Davis Hanson [13:14]
Victor reminisces about Carter's attempts to interfere post-presidency, attributing to him the initiation of ex-presidential meddling in current affairs:
"He started that tradition that the ex president would start interfering."
— Victor Davis Hanson [13:14]
He also criticizes Carter's approach to Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), portraying it as a failed attempt to transition power peacefully, which instead led to the rise of brutal dictators like Mugabe:
"He tried to grandstand. He got his evangelical sanctimonious self in there... he was ruthless."
— Victor Davis Hanson [20:43]
Victor further shares personal anecdotes about the economic hardships during Carter's administration, linking them to broader national issues like inflation and stagflation:
"Carter, if he had the same stance... the hostage rescue was a disaster."
— Victor Davis Hanson [32:29]
4. Immigration, DEI, and the Immigrant Mind
Timestamp: [43:17] - [72:44]
The conversation shifts to contemporary issues surrounding immigration and the influence of DEI initiatives. Victor expresses frustration with the current state of immigration, particularly illegal immigration, and its perceived negative impact on American society.
He critiques organizations like CAIR for deflecting responsibility for terrorism by minimizing the role of Islam:
"Doesn't anybody believe that if you close down all the radical mosques... there would not be a reduction in terrorism?"
— Victor Davis Hanson [51:51]
Victor also discusses the challenges immigrants face in assimilating and the cultural conflicts that arise, leading to increased tensions and extremist behaviors:
"They transmit the message through assimilation, civic education, integration... they don't perform, they're not happy."
— Victor Davis Hanson [62:47]
Addressing DEI, Victor argues that it has infiltrated every aspect of American life, promoting a Marxist-like framework that divides society into oppressed and oppressor groups:
"Every single thing from science to economics to architecture... is a matter of DEI."
— Victor Davis Hanson [82:07]
He warns of the detrimental effects of DEI on industries like agriculture and insurance, asserting that it hampers productivity and fosters a culture of division.
5. Recent Terrorist Attacks and Societal Responses
Timestamp: [72:44] - [77:18]
Victor and Jack discuss the recent terrorist attacks in New Orleans, critiquing the societal and institutional responses to such events. Victor emphasizes the inconsistency in labeling and addressing acts of violence depending on the perpetrator's background.
He highlights how Islamic-inspired terrorism is often contextualized differently compared to other forms of violence, leading to a lack of effective solutions:
"They always try to find any methodology possible to contextualize Islamically inspired violence... it doesn't mean that's the only type of terrorist inspired violence."
— Victor Davis Hanson [62:47]
Victor advocates for a more balanced and empirical approach to terrorism, suggesting that policies should focus on the ideology and behavior of perpetrators rather than their religious or ethnic backgrounds.
6. Corporate Messaging and DEI Influence
Timestamp: [74:37] - [84:32]
The discussion turns to corporate behavior, specifically critiquing how companies like Allstate incorporate social issues into their branding and messaging. Victor condemns Allstate CEO Tom Wilson's approach of scolding Americans for divisiveness during a major sporting event:
"He's going to lecture Americans about their illiberal tendencies... that's not going to be a sustainable way."
— Victor Davis Hanson [77:18]
He parallels this with broader DEI influences, asserting that corporate entities prioritize ideological agendas over addressing practical consumer concerns:
"There's nothing noble about illegal immigration... it's a deliberate war on the United States."
— Victor Davis Hanson [72:44]
Victor further illustrates the negative impact of DEI on small businesses and farming communities, using personal anecdotes to emphasize the destruction wrought by government policies and ideological mandates.
7. Local California Issues and Political Critique
Timestamp: [83:26] - [84:56]
Victor concludes with a discussion on the struggles faced by farmers in California, attributing their woes to Governor Newsom's policies and progressive attacks. He shares personal experiences of economic hardships within the farming community, linking them to larger systemic issues:
"We're paying all their NATO bills in Europe and Greece and Turkey and Spain... you've got this 500 million person Middle East."
— Victor Davis Hanson [72:44]
He underscores the lack of small farming ventures, replaced by large corporate operations focused solely on productivity without community values:
"There is no small farming. Not one, not one small farm. It's all planted to machine mechanized almonds."
— Victor Davis Hanson [47:21]
Victor criticizes Governor Newsom's inability to effectively manage California's economic and environmental challenges, painting him as an ineffective leader who exacerbates existing problems.
8. Conclusion
Throughout the episode, Victor Davis Hanson offers a critical perspective on a range of political and social issues, emphasizing the need for Republican unity, revisiting historical lessons from Jimmy Carter's presidency, addressing the complexities of immigration, and challenging the pervasive influence of DEI. His discussions are punctuated with personal anecdotes and pointed critiques, aiming to provide listeners with a sobering analysis of current events and policies.
Final Notable Quote:
"DEI is a Marxist equality of result binary oppressor oppressed... it has infected just like it did in the Soviet Union."
— Victor Davis Hanson [82:07]
Notable Quotes with Timestamps
-
On Republican Unity:
"They're going to destroy the House majority because you're not getting your complete way."
— Victor Davis Hanson [07:37] -
On Jimmy Carter's Policy Failures:
"He tried to grandstand. He got his evangelical sanctimonious self in there... he was ruthless."
— Victor Davis Hanson [20:43] -
On Immigration and Terrorism:
"Deny the crime had anything to do with Islam, deflecting with excuses and then demonizing anyone who calls out the terrorism as islamophobe."
— Azra Nomani (Quoted by Jack Fowler) [51:51] -
On DEI's Impact:
"Every single thing from science to economics to architecture... is a matter of DEI."
— Victor Davis Hanson [82:07] -
On Corporate Messaging:
"He's going to lecture Americans about their illiberal tendencies... that's not going to be a sustainable way."
— Victor Davis Hanson [77:18]
Final Thoughts
This episode of The Victor Davis Hanson Show offers a robust critique of contemporary political and social issues through the lens of historical analysis and personal experience. Victor Davis Hanson's perspectives on Republican dynamics, Jimmy Carter's presidency, immigration challenges, DEI's societal impact, and corporate behaviors provide listeners with a provocative and thought-provoking discourse on the state of American society and governance.